Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
08:34

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis

Published on: June 3, 2016

15.9K

Early life origins of metabolic disease: Developmental programming of hypothalamic pathways controlling energy

Laura Dearden1, Susan E Ozanne1

  • 1University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Box 289, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
|August 23, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Maternal metabolic conditions like obesity or diabetes during pregnancy can program offspring to become obese. This occurs by altering the development of the hypothalamus, a key brain region for regulating energy balance.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Metabolic disorders

Background:

  • Perinatal exposure to adverse metabolic conditions (maternal obesity, diabetes, under-nutrition) predisposes offspring to obesity.
  • This programming is a significant factor in the global rise of obesity rates.
  • Offspring obesity is linked to hyperphagia, suggesting altered central energy homeostasis regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on how adverse perinatal environments impact hypothalamic development.
  • To explore the mechanisms mediating these programming effects.
  • To understand the link between perinatal exposures and later-life metabolic phenotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of animal (rodent) and non-human primate studies.
  • Analysis of research on hypothalamic plasticity during the perinatal period.
  • Examination of metabolic signals affecting fetal development.

Main Results:

  • Adverse maternal environments impair hypothalamic structure and function during critical developmental windows.
  • These impairments are potentially linked to the development of obesity and metabolic dysfunction in offspring.
  • The hypothalamus is sensitive to metabolic signals during perinatal development.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal programming via hypothalamic development is a key mechanism linking maternal metabolic state to offspring obesity.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing interventions to prevent childhood and adult obesity.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mediating pathways.

Keywords:
Energy homeostasisHypothalamusInsulinLeptinMaternal programmingNeurodevelopment

More Related Videos

Live Images of GLUT4 Protein Trafficking in Mouse Primary Hypothalamic Neurons Using Deconvolution Microscopy08:47

Live Images of GLUT4 Protein Trafficking in Mouse Primary Hypothalamic Neurons Using Deconvolution Microscopy

Published on: December 7, 2017

10.4K
A Zebrafish Model of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Memory10:03

A Zebrafish Model of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Memory

Published on: February 28, 2013

26.7K

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Metabolism01:19

Regulation of Metabolism

Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
12.4K
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
4.4K
Homeostatic Imbalance01:10

Homeostatic Imbalance

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within the body, which is crucial for the proper functioning of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. The body has various control mechanisms that work together to regulate various physiological parameters such as temperature, blood pressure, pH balance, and fluid balance, to name a few. These control mechanisms are based on feedback loops that can be either positive or negative.
However, sometimes these feedback loops fail,...
44.4K
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
1.0K
Introduction to Metabolism01:30

Introduction to Metabolism

Metabolism encompasses all biochemical reactions in a living organism, facilitating both the breakdown and synthesis of biomolecules. These metabolic processes are categorized into catabolic and anabolic pathways, which operate in a coordinated manner to ensure energy balance and cellular function.Catabolic Pathways and Energy ReleaseCatabolic pathways involve the breakdown of complex macromolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins into smaller structures like monosaccharides, fatty...
3.6K
Overview of Lipid Metabolism01:24

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
6.8K