[Distorted control of feeding behavior induced by abnormally regulated peripheral energy metabolism]

To regulate feeding behavior and energy metabolism, a variety of neuronal and hormonal messages are integrated by glucose sensing system located in peripheral organ and central nervous system. Among them, a hepatoportal glucose sensor plays a major role in perception of peripheral humoral information such as brain-gut peptides and cytokines. These signals are transmitted to the hypothalamus through the hepatic afferent vagus nerve and the nucleus of the solitary tract. Recent molecular approaches using knock out or transgenic mice have indicated important effects of peripheral energy metabolism on feeding control. Particularly, fatty acid metabolism in the liver and functions of uncoupling protein family in the brown adipose tissue and the muscle play an essential role as detector for energy storage, and in turn may be contributable to regulation of feeding behavior.