scholarly journals New Horizons: Is Obesity a Disorder of Neurotransmission?

Author(s):  
Alexandre Caron ◽  
Natalie Jane Michael

Abstract Obesity is a disease of the nervous system. While some will view this statement as provocative, others will take it as obvious. Whatever our side is, the pharmacology tells us that targeting the nervous system works for promoting weight loss. It works, but at what cost? Is the nervous system a safe target for sustainable treatment of obesity? What have we learned – and unlearned – about the central control of energy balance in the last few years? In this Mini-Review, we provide a thought-provoking exploration of obesity as a disorder of neurotransmission. We discuss the state of knowledge on the brain pathways regulating energy homeostasis that are commonly targeted in anti-obesity therapy and explore how medications affecting neurotransmission such as atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants and antihistamines relate to body weight. Our goal is to provide the endocrine community with a conceptual framework that will help expending our understanding of the pathophysiology of obesity, a disease of the nervous system.

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 4-10
Author(s):  
O. V. Vasyukova ◽  
P. L. Okorokov ◽  
Yu. V. Kasyanova ◽  
O. B. Bezlepkina

Obesity is a consequence of chronic energy imbalance when energy intake constantly exceeds expenditure, which leads to excess white adipose tissue accumulation. Effective treatment of obesity requires accurate measure of calories intake and expenditure, as well as related behavior to understand how energy homeostasis is regulated and evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken. The greatest interest is to study features of energy metabolism in various forms of obesity. It is necessary to create an evidence-based, personalized approach to diet therapy and to increase the effectiveness of weight loss measures. Modern studies have shown that the use of indirect calorimetry in obesity treatment programs leads to greater weight loss compared to traditional diet therapy planning based on calculated formulas.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Bloemer ◽  
Priyanka D. Pinky ◽  
Manoj Govindarajulu ◽  
Hao Hong ◽  
Robert Judd ◽  
...  

Adiponectin, the most abundant plasma adipokine, plays an important role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Adiponectin also possesses insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and vasodilatory properties which may influence central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Although initially not thought to cross the blood-brain barrier, adiponectin enters the brain through peripheral circulation. In the brain, adiponectin signaling through its receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, directly influences important brain functions such as energy homeostasis, hippocampal neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Overall, based on its central and peripheral actions, recent evidence indicates that adiponectin has neuroprotective, antiatherogenic, and antidepressant effects. However, these findings are not without controversy as human observational studies report differing correlations between plasma adiponectin levels and incidence of CNS disorders. Despite these controversies, adiponectin is gaining attention as a potential therapeutic target for diverse CNS disorders, such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Evidence regarding the emerging role for adiponectin in these disorders is discussed in the current review.


Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (7) ◽  
pp. 3101-3109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Peier ◽  
Jennifer Kosinski ◽  
Kimberly Cox-York ◽  
Ying Qian ◽  
Kunal Desai ◽  
...  

Neuromedin U (NMU) and neuromedin S (NMS) are structurally related neuropeptides that have been reported to modulate energy homeostasis. Pharmacological data have shown that NMU and NMS inhibit food intake when administered centrally and that NMU increases energy expenditure. Additionally, NMU-deficient mice develop obesity, whereas transgenic mice overexpressing NMU are lean and hypophagic. Two high-affinity NMU/NMS receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2, have been identified. NMUR1 is predominantly expressed in the periphery, whereas NMUR2 is predominantly expressed in the brain, suggesting that the effects of centrally administered NMU and NMS are mediated by NMUR2. To evaluate the role of NMUR2 in the regulation of energy homeostasis, we characterized NMUR2-deficient (Nmur2−/−) mice. Nmur2−/− mice exhibited a modest resistance to diet-induced obesity that was at least in part due to reduced food intake. Acute central administration of NMU and NMS reduced food intake in wild-type but not in Nmur2−/− mice. The effects on activity and core temperature induced by centrally administered NMU were also absent in Nmur2−/− mice. Moreover, chronic central administration of NMU and NMS evoked significant reductions in body weight and sustained reductions in food intake in mice. In contrast, Nmur2−/− mice were largely resistant to these effects. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the anorectic and weight-reducing actions of centrally administered NMU and NMS are mediated predominantly by NMUR2, suggesting that NMUR2-selective agonists may be useful for the treatment of obesity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e270101119579
Author(s):  
Cássio Marques Perlin ◽  
Lanusa Alquino Colombo ◽  
Anderson Dillmann Groto ◽  
Bruno Gleizer da Silva Rigon

Superficial Siderosis (SS) of Central Nervous System is a rare disease characterized by the deposit of hemosiderin in the brain and spinal cord. Clinically, it is characterized by progressive sensorineural ataxia and deafness associated with injury of superior motor neuron. The diagnosis is made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the encephalon and spinal cord. The objective of the study is to report the case of a patient with characteristic elements of the syndrome, accompanied in a private medical clinic.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei He ◽  
Pei-Jing Rong ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Hui Ben ◽  
Bing Zhu ◽  
...  

Auricular acupuncture is a diagnostic and treatment system based on normalizing the body's dysfunction. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that auricular acupuncture has a significant effect on inducing parasympathetic tone. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder consisting of recurrent seizures resulting from excessive, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. Autonomic imbalance demonstrating an increased sympathetic activity and a reduced parasympathetic activation is involved in the development and progress of epileptic seizures. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system such as vagus nerve stimulation has been used for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Here, we propose that auricular acupuncture may suppress epileptic seizures via activating the parasympathetic nervous system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 235 (1) ◽  
pp. R13-R31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Stojakovic ◽  
Enma P Espinosa ◽  
Osman T Farhad ◽  
Kabirullah Lutfy

Chronic tobacco use leads to nicotine addiction that is characterized by exaggerated urges to use the drug despite the accompanying negative health and socioeconomic burdens. Interestingly, nicotine users are found to be leaner than the general population. Review of the existing literature revealed that nicotine affects energy homeostasis and food consumption via altering the activity of neurons containing orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides in the brain. Hypothalamus is one of the critical brain areas that regulates energy balance via the action of these neuropeptides. The equilibrium between these two groups of peptides can be shifted by nicotine leading to decreased food intake and weight loss. The aim of this article is to review the existing literature on the effect of nicotine on food intake and energy homeostasis and report on the changes that nicotine brings about in the level of these peptides and their receptors that may explain changes in food intake and body weight induced by nicotine. Furthermore, we review the effect of nicotine on the hedonic aspect of food intake. Finally, we discuss the involvement of different subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the regulatory action of nicotine on food intake and energy homeostasis.


Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Nahla Hwalla ◽  
Zeinab Jaafar

Obesity is a multi-factorial disease and its prevention and management require knowledge of the complex interactions underlying it and adopting a whole system approach that addresses obesogenic environments within country specific contexts. The pathophysiology behind obesity involves a myriad of genetic, epigenetic, physiological, and macroenvironmental factors that drive food intake and appetite and increase the obesity risk for susceptible individuals. Metabolically, food intake and appetite are regulated via intricate processes and feedback systems between the brain, gastrointestinal system, adipose and endocrine tissues that aim to maintain body weight and energy homeostasis but are also responsive to environmental cues that may trigger overconsumption of food beyond homeostatic needs. Under restricted caloric intake conditions such as dieting, these processes elicit compensatory metabolic mechanisms that promote energy intake and weight regain, posing great challenges to diet adherence and weight loss attempts. To mitigate these responses and enhance diet adherence and weight loss, different dietary strategies have been suggested in the literature based on their differential effects on satiety and metabolism. In this review article, we offer an overview of the literature on obesity and its underlying pathological mechanisms, and we present an evidence based comparative analysis of the effects of different popular dietary strategies on weight loss, metabolic responses and diet adherence in obesity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Seidu A. Richard ◽  
Nana Y.B Manaphraim ◽  
Nii Korley Kortei

Aflatoxins B1(AFB1) is an ancillary lethal metabolite archetypally spawned by Aspergillus flavus as well as A. parasiticus mostly found all over the world but more in tropic and humid regions. AFB1 has been isolated is almost all food products. The isolation of AFB1 in humans was demonstrated using human fluid like urine, serum as well as breast milk. Also, AFB1 was isolated in human placenta in pregnant women. ELISA is extremely sensitive in detecting AFB1. AFB1 was capable of compromising the activities of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). AFB1 was capable of triggering peripheral and central nervous degeneration. Acute central nervous system (CNS) symptoms like coma, cerebral edema as well as death has been observed in AFB1 exposure to the brain. Also, symptoms of brain destruction such as dullness, restlessness, muscle tremor, convulsions, loss of memory, epilepsy, idiocy, loss of muscle coordination, and abnormal sensations have been associated with deficiencies of these neurotransmitter during AFB1exposure. AFB1 was capable of influencing the end products of proteins as well as amino acid metabolism leading to hyper-ammonemia which easily cross the BBB to trigger the synthesis of glutamate neurotransmitters which are cytotoxic to the brain cells and causes encephalopathy. Glutathione (GHS) depletion resulted in destruction to critical cellular components such as DNA, lipids and proteins via the 8,9 epoxides of AFB1.This review therefore elucidates the novel neurotoxic and neuroimmunotoxic roles of AFB1 on the CNS.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document