Cambridge Journals Online

Research Article

Peripheral tissue–brain interactions in the regulation of food intake

Miguel Lópeza1, Sulay Tovara1, María J. Vázqueza1, Lynda M. Williamsa2 and Carlos Diégueza1 c1 a1 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, C/San Francisco s/n 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain a2 Energy Balance and Obesity Division, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK

Article author query lópez m   tovar s   vázquez mj   williams lm   diéguez c

Abstract

More than 70 years ago the glucostatic, lipostatic and aminostatic hypotheses proposed that the central nervous system sensed circulating levels of different metabolites, changing feeding behaviour in response to the levels of those molecules. In the last 20 years the rapid increase in obesity and associated pathologies in developed countries has involved a substantial increase in the knowledge of the physiological and molecular mechanism regulating body mass. This effort has resulted in the recent discovery of new peripheral signals, such as leptin and ghrelin, as well as new neuropeptides, such as orexins, involved in body-weight homeostasis. The present review summarises research into energy balance, starting from the original classical hypotheses proposing metabolite sensing, through peripheral tissue–brain interactions and coming full circle to the recently-discovered role of hypothalamic fatty acid synthase in feeding regulation. Understanding these molecular mechanisms will provide new pharmacological targets for the treatment of obesity and appetite disorders.

Key Words: Food intake regulation; Gastrointestinal signals; Adipose and pancreatic hormones; Neural control

Correspondence:

^c1 *Corresponding author: Professor Carlos Diéguez, fax +34 981574145, fscadigo@usc.es