Sensory spinal interoceptive pathways and energy balance regulation

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Neuroscience
• Metabolism

Background:

• Interoception, sensing the body's internal state, is crucial for energy homeostasis.
• Vagal pathways (gut-brain, adipose-brain) are established routes, involving nerves and hormones like leptin.
• Spinal sensory pathways are emerging as significant contributors to interoception and metabolic regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anatomy and function of spinal sensory pathways.
• To discuss their role in energy balance homeostasis.
• To explore their relevance in metabolic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of anatomical and functional studies on spinal sensory pathways.
• Analysis of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuron innervation.
• Discussion of potential mechanisms for energy balance regulation.

Main Results:

• Spinal sensory neurons innervate diverse tissues, including adipose tissue, muscle, and skin.
• This broad innervation allows for comprehensive metabolic information transmission to the brain.
• DRG neurons represent a critical, yet underappreciated, component of interoceptive signaling.

Conclusions:

• Spinal sensory pathways provide extensive metabolic information, complementing vagal signaling.
• Targeting DRG neurons offers potential therapeutic strategies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
• Further research into specific DRG neuron functions is essential for developing novel treatments.