Hypothalamic Y2 Receptors: Central Coordination of Energy Homeostasis and Bone Mass Regulation

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the central nervous system is a major regulator of food consumption and energy homeostasis. It also regulates blood pressure, induces anxiolysis, enhances memory retention and affects circadian rhythms, as well as modulates hormone release. Five Y receptors are known that mediate the action of NPY and its two other family members, peptide YY and pancreatic polypeptide. Increased NPY signaling due to elevated NPY expression in the hypothalamus leads to the development of obesity and its related phenotypes, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation in NPY signaling also causes alterations in bone formation. The large number of Y receptors has made it difficult to delineate their individual contributions to these physiological processes. However, recent studies analyzing Y-receptor knockout models have started to unravel some of the individual functions of these Y receptors. Particularly, the use of conditional knockout models has made it possible to pinpoint a specific functional contribution to an individual Y receptor in a particular location. From these studies, the predominantly presynaptically expressed Y2 receptor in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus has emerged as a prime candidate for mediating satiety as well as a candidate for regulating bone formation. (c) 2002 Prous Science. All rights reserved.