Researchers Identify Neurons in Brain That Regulatory Energy Levels and Body Temperature

Scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center have Gained Greater Clarity in the Brain Regions and Neurons That Control Metabolism, Body Temperature and Energy Use. Featured in the February Edition of the Journal MetabolismDr. Heike Münzberg-Gruening and A Team of Researchers Report on Discoving Which Chemicals Influence the Signals That Control How Much Energy The Body Uses.

In A Paper Titled “Leptin Receiver Neurons in the dorsomedial Hypothalamus Require Neuronal Subsets for Thermogenosis and Weight Loss,” Researchers Lay Out the Pathways, Chemicals, Neurons and Brain Regions That Are Activated.

In Previars Research, Dr. Münzberg-Gruening and Her Team Identified That Leptin Receptors, Orpr, Control the Metabolic Effects of Leptin. These receptors are neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, or dmh, which is a nucleus located in the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. In Their Latest Study, Researchers Found that these lepr neurons communicate Using Two Different Chemical Signals: Glutamate, Which Excites Neurons; and GABA, Which Calms Neurons.

The Study Revealed that the neurons that send signals to the brain region caldus – the regional that controls metabolism –only use glutamate to send their signals. The Neurons That Signal To Another Brain Region – The Arcuate Nucleus, Which Regulations Body Weight, Satriety and Metabolism – Use Only Gaba. These neurons also have special receptors that too respond to the new weight-me medications Known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.

“This Discovery Sheds Light on the Fundamental Neuronal Interplay That Influences How Much Energy Uses and How the Body Adjusts To Changes In Temperature Levels Or Food Availability,” Said Dr. Münzberg, Professor In Pennington Biomedical’s Central Leptin Signaling Lab.

“This Research Expands Our Knowledge of the Circuithry of ThermoRegulation and Emphasizes The Unique Capability of Leptin Signaling in the DMH to Promote Beneficial Metabolic Effects. It also clarifies leptin signaling’s role in the stability of body weight and energy usage. Believe these Neurons Manage the Body’s Ability to Aapt to A Variety of Environmental Changes Like Tempeature or Food Scarcity by Integrating Signals Like Leptin and the Gut Hormone Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 Or GLP-1. “

In addition to identifying Which neurons from the dmh affect right regions and their functions, Researchers Further found that lepi neurons are muted by leptin, While Others Were Activated Specifically When Right Indirect Signals Were Blocked. This suggess that the dmh is part of a Larger Neuronal Network and leptin Increases The Muting Effect of Outside Connections with the DMH, Butt When Outside Connections Are Blocked, Leptin is Able to Un-Mute Neurons.

Such Networks may be relevant to integrate, and if necessary, override environmental and humoral signals to allow proper adaptation of body energy.

This Study Further Clarifies That LePr Neurons Are Unique Selection of DMH Neurons That Promote Metabolic Benefits. They might also explain the paradox that robust weight loss with GLP-1-Based Medications is able to override the slow metabolism usually associated with weight loss, but this paradox needs to be futher tested in future studies.

“There are Still So Many processes in our bodies and brains that remain a mystery to us, and that’s exactly what drives our researchers at pennington biomedical –to exploit these unkrowns, make new discs and deepen our understanding of metabolism,” Said Dr. John KIRWAN, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

“I Want to Congratulate Dr. Münzberg and Her Team on this excite Discovery. It Really Showcases The Incredible Work That Is Happening In Our Pre-Clinical Basic Science Labs, and I Can’t Wait to See What The They’ll Discover Next.”