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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
Published on: November 11, 2021
AgRP Accountants Compute Caloric Cost
Jing Liang1, Michael J Krashes2
1Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; NIH-Brown University Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Researchers explored how the brain signals fullness by studying orexigenic neurons, which control appetite. These studies reveal key mechanisms in gut-brain communication for energy balance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Gut-brain communication is crucial for regulating energy homeostasis.
- Orexigenic neurons play a significant role in appetite control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms of satiation signaling.
- To understand how orexigenic neurons represent satiety.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of neuronal activity in response to feeding.
- Electrophysiological recordings in a well-studied model system.
Main Results:
- Identified specific patterns of activity in orexigenic neurons related to satiation.
- Demonstrated the role of these neurons in conveying satiety signals.
Conclusions:
- Orexigenic neurons are key players in the neural circuitry of satiety.
- These findings advance our understanding of energy homeostasis regulation.
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