Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism
ReviewRole of hypothalamic neurogenesis in feeding regulation
Section snippets
Neurogenesis in the adult brain
Neurogenesis is a complex and highly regulated process that results in the production of new neurons (see Glossary). Neurogenesis occurs at high rates during the embryonic period when substantial quantities of new cells are generated by the proliferation of neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs), and subsequently migrate to the developing tissue [1]. In the adult, neurogenesis occurs at low rates in discrete regions of the brain such as the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles and the
Hypothalamus and feeding regulation
Feeding behavior and energy-balance are regulated centrally by the hypothalamus. Distinct nuclei within the hypothalamus, including the arcuate nucleus (ARC), the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the ventromedial (VMH) and dorsomedial (DMH) hypothalamus, and the lateral hypothalamic area, share neuronal interconnections and together they maintain body homeostasis [4]. ARC neurons produce the orexigenic neuropeptides neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) that act to increase food
Cell populations during embryonic hypothalamic neurogenesis
The development of hypothalamic feeding circuits starts during the embryonic period and, in rodents, continues through the first 2 weeks of postnatal life [10]. Recent studies show that hypothalamic NPCs are present in the embryonic hypothalamus; for example, in rodents, POMC and NPY neuroprecursors are identified as early as embryonic (E) days E10.5 and E14.5, respectively 11, 12. In agreement, NPCs isolated from fetal rat hypothalamus express neuropeptides NPY, AgRP, and POMC [13].
Adult hypothalamic neurogenesis
Emerging evidence suggests that, in addition to the SVZ and SGZ zones, active neurogenesis takes place in other regions of the adult rodent brain 33, 34, 35, 36. These regions include the hypothalamus where a potential neurogenic niche has been characterized 8, 37, 38, 39, 40. Some reports suggest that the basal (unstimulated) levels of neurogenesis in the hypothalamus are low 37, 38, 40, and are probably less than those seen in well-established neurogenic zones [35]. However, recent papers
Concluding remarks
The concept of adult hypothalamic neurogenesis has changed the paradigm of how we understand energy-balance regulation. It is now widely accepted that neurogenic processes occurring in the adult rodent hypothalamus contribute to the physiological regulation of food intake and body weight. Mechanistically, this neuronal plasticity offers the organism flexibility to respond/adapt to daily metabolic challenges. However, the exact role of adult hypothalamic neurogenesis in feeding regulation can
Acknowledgments
We thank the FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology), FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional), and COMPETE (Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade) for financial support (SFRH/BPD/4/2011; PEst-C/SAU/LA0001/2013-2014; PTDC/SAU-FCF/099082/2008).
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2022, Biological PsychiatryCitation Excerpt :A key influence of obesity and hyperglycemia on the brain involves changes in neurogenesis, namely the generation and migration of neurons into functional circuits (Figures 1 and 2). It is known that high-fat diet (HFD) consumption and consequent obesity interfere with proper neurogenesis in regions such as the hippocampus and hypothalamus (58,59). A number of groups have correlated maternal obesity with alterations in fetal and perinatal hypothalamic neurogenesis (58).
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2020, Trends in Endocrinology and MetabolismCitation Excerpt :Neurogenin (Ngn)3 works in concert with Mash1 to define arcuate nucleus neuronal fate; thus, Mash1 is required for NPY neuronal differentiation and POMC neuron development; conversely, Ngn3 is required for NPY neuron expansion [53,55,56]. The subventricular zone (SVZ) of the hypothalamic third ventricle has been described as a proliferative neurogenic niche; in the medial periventricular portion of the hypothalamus, there is continuous proliferation of α-tanycytes and astrocytes, whereas in the ventral portion, there is β-tanycyte proliferation [55]. Tanycytes are important neuroprogenitor cells in the adult hypothalamus; they express nestin and vimentin, which are regarded as classical cellular markers of neurogenesis [38].
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2019, International Journal of Developmental NeuroscienceCitation Excerpt :During hippocampal neurogenesis, many precursor cells and some young neurons physiologically undergo apoptosis (Sierra et al., 2010; Prickaerts, 2004) and are quickly phagocytosed by “unchallenged” microglia (Sierra et al., 2010) leading to the disappearance of ca. 50% of newly formed cells. Surviving neurons are integrated into pre-existent circuits and influence brain functions such as memory and olfaction (Sousa-Ferreira et al., 2014; Ming and Song, 2011). Aging, multiple inflammatory events, and neurodegenerative diseases cause important changes in microglial function with concomitant negative effects on memory and adult neurogenesis showing a direct link between microglia and brain functions (Sierra et al., 2014; Sato, 2015; Valero et al., 2014).