Hypothalamus Influence on Food

Hypothalamus Influence on Food

By Dr. Megan Jorgensen

The major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid or Gamma-AminoButyricAcid) is often associated with energy regulation and eating. So is the hypothalamus, located at the base of the brain. For instance, hypophagia and resultant weight loss caused by cobalt protoporphyrin in mice, is related to diminished activity of nitric oxide synthase in that part of the brain (Li et al., 2006). Further, the link (via the pituitary gland) between the endocrine and nervous systems is also hypothalamic in nature.

Moreover, Williams & Elmquist (2011) write that the optogenetic placement of nutrition intake related actions, corresponds to the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. More precisely, the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and agouti-related peptide (AGRP) neurons would be responsible for this regulating mechanism. Furthermore, the roles played by the two cell types appear contradictory. POMC activity decreases food intake, while AGRP elevates it.

Very thin individuals are sometimes called ‘stick thin’. mysterious room: stick figures. Image: Copyright © Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Along these lines, leptin orOBprotein expression in the hypothalamus, has also been said to reduce appetite in rats (Schwartz et al., 1996). Clearly, the structure is crucial for metabolism.

References:

• Li, M., Vizzard, M. A., Jaworski, D. M. & Galbraith, R. A. (2006). The weight loss elicited by cobalt protoporphyrin is related to decreased activity of nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamus. J. Appl. Physiol., 100: 1983–9
• Schwartz, M. W., Seeley, R. J., Campfield, L. A., Burn, P. & Baskin, D. G. (1996). Identification of targets of leptin action in rat hypothalamus. J. Clin. Invest., 98 (5): 1101-6.
• Williams, K. W. & Elmquist, J. K. (2011). Lighting up the hypothalamus: Coordinated control of feeding behavior. Nat. Neurosci.: News and Views, 14 (3): 277-8.

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