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leptin

·May 30, 2025·3 min read

Tiny Brain Cell Cluster Found to Drive Obesity and Overeating

Scientists have identified a small, specialized group of neurons in the mouse brain that directly influence eating behavior and weight gain. These PNOC/NPY cells, found in the hypothalamus, increase food intake when activated and are also present in the human brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 5, 2024·4 min read

New Appetite Regulating Neurons Discovered

Researchers have identified a previously unknown population of neurons in the hypothalamus that play a critical role in regulating appetite. These neurons express both leptin receptors and the BNC2 gene, making them highly responsive to hunger-suppressing signals and food-related sensory cues.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 23, 2024·9 min read

Neural Circuit Found to Regulate Chewing and Appetite

New research has uncovered a simple neural circuit that connects hunger signals to jaw movements required for eating. Scientists identified a three-neuron pathway involving the hormone leptin and BDNF neurons, which controls the jaw's motor function.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 22, 2024·5 min read

UV Light Increases Appetite But Suppresses Weight Gain

A new study reveals that UV exposure can increase appetite while simultaneously preventing weight gain. This unexpected finding is attributed to UV's influence on hormones and neurotransmitters, leading to increased energy expenditure and the browning of subcutaneous fat. These insights could pave the way for innovative approaches to combat obesity and metabolic disorders.

This is a graphical abstract from the study

Featured Neuroscience

·February 23, 2023·5 min read

Leptin Helps Hungry Mice Choose Sex Over Food

When their brains are stimulated with leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, hungry mice prioritize mating and interacting with mice of the opposite gender over eating.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2022·5 min read

A Possible Neural Link Between Early Life Trauma and Binge-Eating Disorder Discovered

8 in 10 sufferers of binge eating disorders experienced trauma during childhood. Researchers discovered leptin is less effective in the lateral hypothalamus of those who suffered childhood trauma.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 24, 2021·2 min read

How the Brain and Fat Tissue Communicate

A new study aims to generate a model of how the brain and body fat communication system controls the production and release of leptin. The study aims to discover how metabolism is regulated under different environmental challenges.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 6, 2021·4 min read

Leptin Puts the Brakes on Eating via Novel Neurocircuit

Researchers have identified novel neurocircuitry between midbrain structures which are modulated by leptin to control eating behaviors in mice.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 12, 2020·3 min read

Exercise Makes Female Rats Hungrier and Sustains Weight Gain

Study in rats reveals sex differences may play a key role in the effectiveness of exercise as an appetite regulator. Exercising female rats ate more than those who did not partake in physical activity. The same effect was not seen in males.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 22, 2020·5 min read

How Neurons Reshape Inside Body Fat to Boost Its Calorie-Burning Capacity

Normally bushy networks of neural fibers within fat tissue shrink in the absence of leptin, but grow back when the hormone is administered in drug form. The alterations influence the ability to burn energy stored in fat in mouse models.

This shows a pregnant woman making a heart shape with her hands over her belly

Featured Neuroscience

·May 25, 2019·2 min read

Don’t overdo omega-6 fat consumption during pregnancy

Consuming too much omega 6 during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental issues in babies and pregnancy complications. In mice who had higher levels of linoleic acid in their diets, researchers noted altered concentrations of inflammatory proteins and a decrease in hormones that regulate fetal growth and development. Researchers stress the effects of a high linoleic acid concentration in diet are the same for both animal models and humans.

This shows a weighing scale, a tape measure and an apple

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 2, 2019·3 min read

New brain mechanisms regulating body weight identified: Rodent study

Interleukin-6 interacts with leptin in the lateral parabrachial nucleus to reduce food intake. Reducing IL-6 in the IPBL increases weight gain and could help explain why some are more prone to overeating and obesity.