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View article: A Light-Responsive Neural Circuit Suppresses Feeding
A Light-Responsive Neural Circuit Suppresses Feeding Open
Light plays an essential role in a variety of physiological processes, including vision, mood, and glucose homeostasis. However, the intricate relationship between light and an animal's feeding behavior has remained elusive. Here, we found…
View article: Leptin engages the lateral hypothalamus to ventral tegmental area circuit to modulate sleep-wake behavior
Leptin engages the lateral hypothalamus to ventral tegmental area circuit to modulate sleep-wake behavior Open
Sleep and metabolism are inextricably linked and mutually affect each other. Leptin is a pivotal regulator of metabolic homeostasis, but its effect on sleep-wake regulation remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that leptin acts on a small s…
View article: Cell-specific transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in a mouse deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt model of hypertension
Cell-specific transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in a mouse deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt model of hypertension Open
A common preclinical model of hypertension characterized by low circulating renin is the “deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt” model, which influences blood pressure and metabolism through mechanisms involving the angiotensin II type 1…
View article: Estrogen Receptor Alpha Splice Variants, Post-Translational Modifications, and Their Physiological Functions
Estrogen Receptor Alpha Splice Variants, Post-Translational Modifications, and Their Physiological Functions Open
The importance of estrogenic signaling for a broad spectrum of biological processes, including reproduction, cancer development, energy metabolism, memory and learning, and so on, has been well documented. Among reported estrogen receptors…
View article: Cardiometabolic Consequences of Deleting the Regulator of G protein Signaling-2 ( <i>Rgs2</i> ) From Cells Expressing Agouti-Related Peptide or the ANG (Angiotensin) II Type 1A Receptor in Mice
Cardiometabolic Consequences of Deleting the Regulator of G protein Signaling-2 ( <i>Rgs2</i> ) From Cells Expressing Agouti-Related Peptide or the ANG (Angiotensin) II Type 1A Receptor in Mice Open
Background: RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) family members catalyze the termination of G protein signaling cascades. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the RGS2 gene in humans have been linked to hypertension, preeclampsia, and anxi…
View article: Hypomorphism of a Novel Long ERα Isoform Causes Severe Reproductive Dysfunctions in Female Mice
Hypomorphism of a Novel Long ERα Isoform Causes Severe Reproductive Dysfunctions in Female Mice Open
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)–mediated estrogen signaling plays a pivotal role in both reproductive and nonreproductive functions. Transcriptional regulation of the ERα gene is highly complex, with multiple transcript variants being differ…
View article: Melanocortin MC<sub>4</sub>R receptor is required for energy expenditure but not blood pressure effects of angiotensin II within the mouse brain
Melanocortin MC<sub>4</sub>R receptor is required for energy expenditure but not blood pressure effects of angiotensin II within the mouse brain Open
The brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is implicated in control of blood pressure (BP), fluid intake, and energy expenditure (EE). Angiotensin II (ANG II) within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus contributes to control of resting m…
View article: Hypomorphism of a novel long ERα isoform causes severe reproductive dysfunctions in female mice
Hypomorphism of a novel long ERα isoform causes severe reproductive dysfunctions in female mice Open
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-mediated estrogen signaling play a pivotal role in both reproductive and non-reproductive functions. Transcriptional regulation of ERα gene is highly complex, with multiple transcript variants being differenti…
View article: Hypothalamic GPCR Signaling Pathways in Cardiometabolic Control
Hypothalamic GPCR Signaling Pathways in Cardiometabolic Control Open
Obesity is commonly associated with sympathetic overdrive, which is one of the major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and heart failure. Over the past few decades, there has been a growing u…
View article: Neuroanatomical organization and functional roles of PVN MC4R pathways in physiological and behavioral regulations
Neuroanatomical organization and functional roles of PVN MC4R pathways in physiological and behavioral regulations Open
Objective The paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) is an integrative center in the brain orchestrating a wide range of physiological and behavioral responses. While the PVN melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) signaling (PVN MC4R+ ) is …
View article: Bispectral EEG (BSEEG) quantifying neuro-inflammation in mice induced by systemic inflammation: A potential mouse model of delirium
Bispectral EEG (BSEEG) quantifying neuro-inflammation in mice induced by systemic inflammation: A potential mouse model of delirium Open
Most of the animal studies using inflammation-induced cognitive change have relied on behavioral testing without objective and biologically solid methods to quantify the severity of cognitive disturbances. We have developed a bispectral EE…
View article: Activation of hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons evokes disparate sympathetic and cardiovascular responses
Activation of hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons evokes disparate sympathetic and cardiovascular responses Open
Agouti-related peptide (AgRP)- and proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons of the arcuate nucleus are essential components of the brain melanocortin system that controls various physiological processes. Here, we tested the metabolic …
View article: Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing of the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus of C57BL/6J Mice After Prolonged Diet-Induced Obesity
Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing of the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus of C57BL/6J Mice After Prolonged Diet-Induced Obesity Open
Prolonged obesity is associated with blunted feeding and thermogenic autonomic responses to leptin, but cardiovascular responses to leptin are maintained. This state of selective leptin resistance is, therefore, proposed to contribute to t…
View article: Behavioral Alterations in Mice Carrying Homozygous HDAC4A778T Missense Mutation Associated With Eating Disorder
Behavioral Alterations in Mice Carrying Homozygous HDAC4A778T Missense Mutation Associated With Eating Disorder Open
Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental illnesses thought to arise from the complex gene-environment interactions. DNA methylation patterns in histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) locus have been associated with EDs and we have previously ident…
View article: Celastrol Reduces Obesity in MC4R Deficiency and Stimulates Sympathetic Nerve Activity Affecting Metabolic and Cardiovascular Functions
Celastrol Reduces Obesity in MC4R Deficiency and Stimulates Sympathetic Nerve Activity Affecting Metabolic and Cardiovascular Functions Open
Leptin resistance is a hallmark of obesity with unclear etiology. Celastrol, a compound found in the roots of the Tripterygium wilfordii and known to reduce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, has recently emerged as a promising candidate t…
View article: Emerging Roles of Estrogen-Related Receptors in the Brain: Potential Interactions with Estrogen Signaling
Emerging Roles of Estrogen-Related Receptors in the Brain: Potential Interactions with Estrogen Signaling Open
In addition to their well-known role in the female reproductive system, estrogens can act in the brain to regulate a wide range of behaviors and physiological functions in both sexes. Over the past few decades, genetically modified animal …
View article: Novel and ultra-rare damaging variants in neuropeptide signaling are associated with disordered eating behaviors
Novel and ultra-rare damaging variants in neuropeptide signaling are associated with disordered eating behaviors Open
These findings implicate ultra-rare and novel damaging variants in neuropeptide/neurotropic factor signaling pathways in the development of eating disorder behaviors and identify glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists as a potential tre…
View article: Optogenetics and pharmacogenetics: principles and applications
Optogenetics and pharmacogenetics: principles and applications Open
Remote and selective spatiotemporal control of the activity of neurons to regulate behavior and physiological functions has been a long-sought goal in system neuroscience. Identification and subsequent bioengineering of light-sensitive ion…
View article: Lipopolysacharide Rapidly and Completely Suppresses AgRP Neuron-Mediated Food Intake in Male Mice
Lipopolysacharide Rapidly and Completely Suppresses AgRP Neuron-Mediated Food Intake in Male Mice Open
Although Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons play a key role in the regulation of food intake, their contribution to the anorexia caused by proinflammatory insults has yet to be identified. Using a combination of neuroanatomical and phar…
View article: The BBSome Controls Energy Homeostasis by Mediating the Transport of the Leptin Receptor to the Plasma Membrane
The BBSome Controls Energy Homeostasis by Mediating the Transport of the Leptin Receptor to the Plasma Membrane Open
Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a highly pleiotropic autosomal recessive disorder associated with a wide range of phenotypes including obesity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that neuronal BBSome is a criti…