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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Segmentation and Measurement of Fat Volumes in Murine Obesity Models Using X-ray Computed Tomography

Segmentation and Measurement of Fat Volumes in Murine Obesity Models Using X-ray Computed Tomography

Published on: April 4, 2012

Monogenic human obesity syndromes.

I Sadaf Farooqi¹

¹Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology

|July 9, 2021

Summary

Neural circuits in the hypothalamus regulate energy balance. Disruptions in pathways involving leptin, POMC, and MC4R genes can cause severe obesity, informing new therapeutic strategies.

Keywords:

Agouti-related peptide Homeostasis Hyperphagia Hypothalamus Leptin Melanocortin Melanocortin-4 receptors Monogenic Obesity

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Endocrinology
Genetics

Background:

Hypothalamic neural circuits are crucial for regulating human energy homeostasis.
Key pathways involve leptin-responsive neurons expressing proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and Agouti-related peptide.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying hypothalamic regulation of energy balance.
To understand how genetic disruptions in this circuit lead to severe obesity.

Main Methods:

Characterization of genetic obesity syndromes linked to mutations in leptin, leptin receptor, POMC, and MC4R genes.
Analysis of neural pathways involving POMC-derived peptides and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4Rs).

Main Results:

Inherited mutations in genes like POMC and MC4R disrupt hypothalamic circuits, causing severe obesity.
Leptin signaling through POMC neurons and MC4R activation reduces food intake and increases energy expenditure.

Conclusions:

Understanding these hypothalamic pathways is vital for comprehending energy balance regulation.
This knowledge has led to mechanism-based therapies for obesity caused by genetic disruptions.