Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
08:58
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
Published on: June 19, 2019
Sleep and metabolism: shared circuits, new connections
Antoine Adamantidis1, Luis de Lecea
1Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304-5742, USA. tidis@stanford.edu
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|October 22, 2008
Summary
Sleep disturbances and hormonal imbalances link to metabolic disorders. Shared hypothalamic circuits, like hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone systems, are key players in regulating sleep and energy balance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Sleep disturbances and hormonal imbalances are linked to metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes.
- The hypothalamus plays a crucial role due to its sleep-wake circuits sensitive to metabolic hormones (leptin, ghrelin).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the roles of hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone systems in mediating sleep and metabolic imbalances.
- To discuss the plasticity of these systems in regulating sleep and energy balance.
- To highlight the utility of novel optical tools in studying shared hypothalamic circuits.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on hypothalamic circuits.
- Analysis of the roles of hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone systems.
- Discussion of emerging optical tools for neuronal circuit control.
Main Results:
- Hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone systems are identified as key mediators of both sleep and metabolic functions.
- These systems exhibit plasticity, influencing both sleep and energy balance regulation.
- Novel optical tools offer new avenues for investigating the interplay within shared hypothalamic circuits.
Conclusions:
- Shared hypothalamic circuits are critical for integrating sleep and metabolic regulation.
- Understanding these systems offers potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders.
- Advanced optical techniques are essential for future research in this area.
More Related Videos
10:56Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
Published on: August 2, 2017
10:45Simultaneous Electroencephalography, Real-time Measurement of Lactate Concentration and Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity in the Rodent Cerebral Cortex
Published on: December 19, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:11Understanding Sleep
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
01:28Electrical Synapses
Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
01:25Overview of Synapses
A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...