Endocrine Abstracts

The hypothalamus integrates the neuroendocrine control of numerous hormonal systems. Energy balance is regulated by a complex neuroendocrine feedback loop, in which the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) responds peripheral neural and hormonal afferent signals of satiety and energy reserve (through insulin and leptin), interprets these as anorexigenic (a-MSH) or orexigenic (NPY, AgRP) signals (through the melanocortin-4 receptor), and then directs efferent autonomic signals (symp...