Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
04:48
Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Dorsomedial hypothalamic NPY and energy balance control
Sheng Bi1, Yonwook J Kim, Fenping Zheng
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. sbi@jhmi.edu
Neuropeptides
|October 23, 2012
Summary
Dorsomedial hypothalamus Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a key role in regulating food intake and body weight. DMH NPY influences nocturnal feeding and energy expenditure, impacting obesity and glucose homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a critical orexigenic peptide primarily found in the hypothalamus.
- While arcuate nucleus (ARC) NPY's role in energy balance is established, dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) NPY functions are less understood.
- Unlike ARC NPY, DMH NPY is not regulated by leptin but influenced by cholecystokinin (CCK).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific role of NPY within the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) in regulating energy homeostasis.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which DMH NPY influences feeding behavior, body weight, and glucose metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) to manipulate NPY levels in the DMH.
- Assessment of food intake, body weight, and glucose tolerance in rodent models, including Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and high-fat diet-fed rats.
Main Results:
- Overexpression of NPY in the DMH increased food intake, body weight, and exacerbated diet-induced obesity and hyperphagia.
- NPY knockdown in the DMH ameliorated hyperphagia, obesity, and glucose intolerance in OLETF rats and prevented diet-induced metabolic disturbances.
- DMH NPY was found to specifically impact nocturnal meal size, inhibit satiety signals, and modulate energy expenditure via brown adipose tissue.
Conclusions:
- DMH NPY is a critical regulator of energy balance, influencing feeding patterns and energy expenditure.
- Targeting DMH NPY may offer therapeutic potential for obesity and related metabolic disorders, including impaired glucose homeostasis.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:23Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination
The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
01:19Energy Balance
The human body gets energy from the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Energy is released when the chemical bonds in the organic compounds present in the food are broken down. The energy content of food is measured in kilocalories (kcal), defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This value is determined by measuring the temperature change of the water surrounding a calorimeter after the complete...
01:40Hormonal Regulation
Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
01:30Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions
The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the subthalamic...
01:25Primary Motives: Hunger and Thirst
Hunger and thirst are fundamental physiological drives crucial for maintaining homeostasis and ensuring the survival of both humans and animals. These drives are regulated through complex interactions between the brain, hormones, and sensory receptors.
Hunger arises when the brain detects changes in the body's nutrient levels, including glucose, lipids, amino acids, and hormones such as ghrelin and leptin. The hypothalamus plays a central role in hunger regulation. The lateral hypothalamus acts...
Hunger arises when the brain detects changes in the body's nutrient levels, including glucose, lipids, amino acids, and hormones such as ghrelin and leptin. The hypothalamus plays a central role in hunger regulation. The lateral hypothalamus acts...