This 2022 study identified protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta (PTPRD) as the neural receptor for asprosin, a fasting-induced hormone derived from white adipose tissue. Asprosin crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to PTPRD on AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus, activating them to stimulate appetite. Genetic ablation of PTPRD in mice
This 2006 review article explores the central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms regulating food intake and body weight. It highlights the hypothalamus, particularly the arcuate nucleus, as a critical center integrating hormonal signals like leptin and insulin with neural inputs to maintain energy homeostasis. The review discusses how disruptions in these
This 2014 study investigates how acetate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, influences appetite regulation. Using in vivo imaging and metabolic tracing in mice, researchers demonstrated that acetate crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in the hypothalamus. There, it enhances glutamate–glutamine and GABA neurotransmitter
The study “Hypothalamic pregnenolone mediates recognition memory in the context of metabolic disorders” (Cell Metabolism, 2022) explores the role of pregnenolone production in hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in regulating recognition memory, particularly under metabolic stress conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that a short-term high-fat diet impaired
