Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2014) 34 S12.2 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.34.S12.2

UCL, London, UK.


The activity of the vagus nerve is associated with a ‘rest and digest’ state, suggesting a central role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The importance of the vagus nerve for cephalic responses to food intake, including the early release of insulin, is undisputed, and early experiments on rabbits by Claude Bernard almost 150 years ago have linked lesions in the dorsal vagal complex of the brainstem with diabetes mellitus. Similarly, many diabetic patients present with autonomic imbalance, and particularly a loss of vagal activity.

In our laboratory we focus on understanding this link between the vagal system and energy metabolism. We aim to ascertain the molecular mechanisms for assessing the metabolic state of the body at the level of the vagal complex. Using rodent in vitro brain slice preparations we investigate whether specific cell populations within the vagal complex are intrinsically sensitive to physiological changes in glucose concentration. We explore the molecular and electrical mechanisms responsible and the link which relates to their general metabolic sensitivity. We have successfully combined in vitro patch-clamp electrophysiology with single-cell RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry to demonstrate both metabolic and non-metabolic glucosensing pathways, as well as an element of circadian variation in glucose responses within the vagal complex. In parallel, we use optogenetic and pharmacogenetic approaches facilitated by viral gene delivery to manipulate vagal outflow specifically targeting the vagal complex in vivo. These experiments suggest that the level of vagal activity affects blood glucose regulation and also highlights a role for vagal activity in remote ischemic preconditioning of the heart.

In summary, we suggest that vagal output is important for metabolic regulation, and its loss may contribute causally to metabolic disease.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.

My recently viewed abstracts