Endocrine Abstracts

The central nervous system (CNS) is crucial in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Apart from endocrine signaling and nutrient sensing, there is an important neuronal network that connects the CNS with peripheral metabolic processes. Many neuroanatomical studies have shown that the white adipose tissue (WAT) and the liver are innervated by the autonomic nervous system. For instance, there is evidence that, as the levels of various peripheral signals change, specific neuronal...

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone secreted by the stomach with orexigenic properties that induce food intake trough the activation of hypothalamic AMP activated kinase (AMPK). In rodents fed on normal diet the central administration of ghrelin induces an increase in food intake, however, when fed a high fat diet (HFD) rodents are resistant to the orexigenic effect of ghrelin. Recent data show that Cidea interacts with AMPK β-subunit and promotes AMPK degradation trough ubiquit...

Introduction: Smokers around the globe commonly report increased body weight after smoking cessation as a major factor that interferes with their attempts to quit. In addition, numerous controlled studies in both humans and rodents have reported that nicotine exerts a marked anorectic action. Nicotine’s effects on energy homeostasis have been mostly pinpointed in the central nervous system, but the molecular mechanisms controlling its action are still not fully understood...

Current evidence suggests that the adipocyte-derived hormone resistin (RSTN) regulates both feeding and peripheral metabolism through unclear hypothalamic-mediated mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate by the first time, that the anorectic effect of RSTN is associated to specific changes in the expression of neuropeptides in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), namely AgRP, NPY and CART. Very interestingly, RSTN also exerts a deep, nutritional-dependent inhibitory effect ...

The adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ involved in the control not only of metabolism and energy balance, but also of other relevant body functions, including reproduction. Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone, with relevant roles in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis, recently involved in the control of different endocrine organs, such as the placenta, pituitary and, likely, the ovary. However, whether as described previously for other adipokines, such as leptin...

Hyperthyroid rats and humans exhibit increased energy expenditure and marked hyperphagia. Recent evidence has pointed that alterations of thermogenesis linked to hyperthyroidism are associated to dysregulation of hypothalamic AMPK and fatty acid metabolism; however, the central mechanisms mediating hyperthyroidism-induced hyperphagia remain largely unclear.Objective: The aim of our study was to assess if alterations in feeding in hyperthyroidism are asso...