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POMC

·December 19, 2022·4 min read

Serotonin 2C Receptor Associated With Obesity and Maladaptive Behavior

Mutations in the gene for the serotonin 2C receptor play a key role in obesity and dysfunctional behaviors in both human and animal models.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 8, 2020·3 min read

Appetite can be increased by cells in the brain

Glial cells known as tanycytes deliver signals to neurons in the brain to activate appetite. Optogenetic stimulation of tanycytes increases appetite.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 3, 2020·3 min read

Brain cells that change shape after a meal

Following a meal, astrocytes associated with POMC neurons in the hypothalamus alter their shape. After eating, glucose levels increase temporarily. Astrocytes detect the signal and react within one hour, causing POMC neurons to activate and promote the feeling of satiety.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 5, 2019·4 min read

Brain circuit connects feeding and mood in response to stress

A new study identifies a novel neural network regulating feeding and mood in response to chronic stress. Inhibiting the POMC to ventral tegmental area circuit increases body weight and food intake while reducing depressive symptoms in mouse models.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 15, 2019·3 min read

Moderate to heavy drinking during pregnancy alters genes in newborns and mothers

POMC, a gene which regulates the stress response system, and PER2, a gene associated with circadian regulation, are altered in women who drank moderate-to-high amounts of alcohol during pregnancy and their newborns.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 24, 2019·2 min read

Researchers identify new hunger pathway in the brain

Newly identified network in the hypothalamus alters feeding behaviors on a shorter timescale. The pathway affects food intake and body weight by releasing GABA, which may occur due to the detection, and not the consumption of food.