Encyclopedia of Neuroscience

2009 Edition
| Editors: Marc D. Binder, Nobutaka Hirokawa, Uwe Windhorst

Neuropeptides in Energy Balance

  • Melissa J. S. Chee
  • William F. Colmers
Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_3932

Synonyms

Polypeptide; Energy homeostasis; Energy state; Appetite regulation; Food intake; Hypothalamus

Definition

Energy balance refers to the homeostasis between positive and negative energy states in an organism and is controlled by the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. In higher organisms, these processes are regulated by the brain, where the hypothalamus assumes an important role. The hypothalamic circuitry involved includes peptide chemical messengers. These neuropeptides can be orexigenic, stimulating increased energy intake and tending to decrease energy expenditure, or anorexigenic, reducing energy intake and promoting increased energy expenditure. Here, we discuss the main hypothalamic neuropeptides that modulate the central circuitry involved in energy homeostasis, and their integration of peripheral peptide and protein hormone signals of energy balance.

Characteristics

Neuropeptide Modulation of Hypothalamic Circuitry

Early experiments investigating the role...

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Melissa J. S. Chee
    • 1
    • 2
  • William F. Colmers
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of PharmacologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
  2. 2.Centre for NeuroscienceUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada