hypothalamus

Consciousness is composed of arousal (i.e., wakefulness) and awareness. Substantial progress has been made in mapping the cortical networks that underlie awareness in the human brain, but knowledge about the subcortical networks that sustain arousal in humans is incomplete. Here, we aimed to map the connectivity of a proposed subcortical arousal network that sustains wakefulness in the human brain, analogous to the cortical default mode network (DMN) that has been shown to contribute to awareness. We integrated data from ex vivo diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of three human brains, obtained at autopsy from neurologically normal individuals, with immunohistochemical staining of subcortical brain sections...

Seipin is a key regulator of lipid metabolism, the deficiency of which leads to severe lipodystrophy. Hypothalamus is the pivotal center of brain that modulates appetite and energy homeostasis, where Seipin is abundantly expressed. Whether and how Seipin deficiency leads to systemic metabolic disorders via hypothalamus-involved energy metabolism dysregulation remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrated that Seipin-deficiency induced hypothalamic inflammation, reduction of anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and elevation of orexigenic agonist-related peptide (AgRP)...

Hibernation is an extreme state of seasonal energy conservation, reducing metabolic rate to as little as 1% of the active state. During the hibernation season, many species of hibernating mammals cycle repeatedly between the active (aroused) and hibernating (torpid) states (T-A cycling), using brown adipose tissue (BAT) to drive cyclical rewarming. The regulatory mechanisms controlling this process remain undefined but are presumed to involve thermoregulatory centres in the hypothalamus. Here, we use the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), and high-resolution monitoring of BAT, core body temperature (Tb), and ventilation rate, to sample at precisely defined phases of the T-A cycle...

Puberty is a crucial phase for the development of female sexual behavior. Growing evidence suggests that stress during this period may interfere with the development of sexual behavior. However, the neural circuits involved in this alteration remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated in mice that pubertal stress permanently disrupted sexual performance without affecting sexual preference. This was associated with a reduced expression and activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl)...

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is one of the most common symptoms of bone metastasis of tumor cells. The hypothalamus may play a pivotal role in the regulation of CIBP. However, little is known about the exact mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, we established a CIBP model to explore the relationship among hypothalamic ghrelin, NPY and CIBP. Then, we exogenously administered NPY and NPY receptor antagonists to investigate whether hypothalamic NPY exerted an antinociceptive effect through binding to NPY receptors...

While the excessive inflammation in cancer cachexia is well-known to be induced by the overproduction of inflammatory mediators in the periphery, microflora disruption and brain dysfunction are also considered to contribute to the induction of cancer cachexia. Hypothalamic microglia play a crucial role in brain inflammation and central-peripheral immune circuits via the production of inflammatory mediators. In the present study, we evaluated possible changes in excessive secretion of gut microbiota-derived endotoxin and the expression timeline of several inflammation-regulatory mediators and their inhibiting modulators in hypothalamic microglia of a mouse model of cancer cachexia following transplantation of pancreatic cancer cells...

Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are rare developmental anomalies of the inferior hypothalamus that often cause refractory epilepsy, including gelastic seizures. Surgical resection is an effective method to treat drug-resistant epilepsy and endocrinopathy in a suitable patient group. Open surgery, endoscopic surgery, ablative procedures, and stereotactic radiosurgery can be utilized. In this study, we aimed to describe the full-endoscopic approach for HH resection. The technique involves the use of an intraoperative ultrasonography (USG) system, a 30° rigid endoscope system that has an outside diameter of 2...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), currently included by the Diagnostic and Statistical of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision in the macro-category "disorders related to traumatic and stressful events", is a severe mental distress that arises acutely as a result of direct or indirect exposure to severely stressful and traumatic events. A large body of literature is available on the psychological and behavioral manifestations of PTSD; however, with regard to the more purely neuropsychological aspects of the disorder, they are still the subject of research and need greater clarity, although the roles of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus, cerebellum, locus coeruleus, and hippocampus in the onset of the disorder's characteristic symptoms have already been elucidated...

BACKGROUND: Craniopharyngioma (CP), although slow growing and histologically benign, has high morbidity, mostly related to hypothalamus-pituitary dysfunction and electrolyte imbalance. Increased risk of vascular complications has been described. However, data are still poor, especially in the paediatric population. The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence, timing, and predisposing factors of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and other vascular alterations in neurosurgical paediatric CP patients...

Food intake affects poultry productivity. A complete understanding of these regulatory mechanisms provides new strategies to improve productivity. Food intake is regulated by complex mechanisms involving many factors, including the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, hormones, and nutrients. Although several studies have been conducted to elucidate regulatory mechanisms in chickens, the mechanisms remain unclear. To update the current knowledge on feeding regulation in chickens, this review focuses on recent findings that have not been summarized in previous reviews, including spexins, adipokines, neurosecretory proteins GL and GM, and central intracellular signaling factors...

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of post-traumatic hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunctions is expected to be most relevant to offer patients with severe intracranial affection. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypopituitarism in patients with severe acquired traumatic (TBI) compared with non-traumatic (NTBI) brain injury, and to relate pituitary insufficiency to functional and patient-reported outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective. METHODS: We included patients admitted for inpatient neurorehabilitation after severe TBI (N=48) and NTBI (N=18)...

Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) is a synthetic heme analog that has been observed to reduce food intake and promote sustained weight loss. While the precise mechanisms responsible for these effects remain elusive, earlier research has hinted at the potential involvement of nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamus. This study aimed to delve into CoPP's impact on the activities of crucial antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) across seven distinct brain regions (hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, striatum, midbrain, and cerebellum), as well as in the liver and kidneys...

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a rare and severe autoimmune encephalitis that displays neuropsychiatric symptoms and autonomic instability, e.g., hypoventilation and cardiac arrhythmia. Severe arrhythmia including asystole associated with this encephalitis is rare. Several causes have been suggested. Nevertheless, no report of the literature has described examination by functional brain imaging of a patient with asystole during anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. This case is that of a 34-year-old woman diagnosed as having anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis...

BACKGROUND: Identifying biomarkers that predict substance use disorder (SUD) propensity may better strategize anti-addiction treatment. The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) critically mediates interactions between sleep and substance use; however, their activities are largely obscured in surface electroencephalogram (EEG) measures, hindering the development of biomarkers. METHODS: Surface EEG signals and real-time Ca2+ activities of LH MCH neurons (Ca2+ MCH ) were simultaneously recorded in male and female adult rats...

Xiaochaihu granules (XCHG) are extensively used to treat fever. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study aimed to explore the potential of XCHG in mitigating yeast-induced fever and the underlying metabolic pathways. The chemical composition of XCHG was ascertained using ultra-fast liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), followed by integrated network analysis to predict potential targets. We then conducted experimental validation using pharmacological assays and metabolomics analysis in a yeast-induced mouse fever model...

Diets high in saturated fatty acids are associated with obesity and infertility. Palmitate, the most prevalent circulating saturated fatty acid, is sensed by hypothalamic neurons, contributing to homeostatic dysregulation. Notably, palmitate elevates the mRNA levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone ( Gnrh ) mRNA and its activating transcription factor, GATA binding protein 4 ( Gata4 ). GATA4 is essential for basal Gnrh expression by binding to its enhancer region, with Oct-1 ( Oct1 ) and CEBP-β ( Cebpb ) playing regulatory roles...

The circadian rhythms generated by the master biological clock located in the brain's hypothalamus influence central physiological processes. At the molecular level, a core set of clock genes interact to form transcription-translation feedback loops that provide the molecular basis of the circadian rhythm. In animal models of disease, a desynchronization of clock genes in peripheral tissues with the central master clock has been detected. Interestingly, patients with vascular dementia have sleep disorders and irregular sleep patterns...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth factor that promotes the survival and growth of developing neurons. It also enhances circuit formation to synaptic transmission for mature neurons in the brain. However, reduced BDNF expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are reported to be associated with functional deficit and disease development in the brain, suggesting that BDNF is a crucial molecule for brain health. Interestingly, BDNF is also expressed in the hypothalamus in appetite and energy metabolism...

The global rise in obesity and related health issues, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, is alarming. Gaining a deeper insight into the central neural pathways and mechanisms that regulate energy and glucose homeostasis is crucial for developing effective interventions to combat this debilitating condition. A significant body of evidence from studies in humans and rodents indicates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling plays a key role in regulating feeding, energy expenditure, and glycemic control...

Cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) can be selectively secreted or retained, adding another layer to their critical role in regulating human health and disease. To date, select RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have been proposed to be a mechanism underlying miRNA localization, but the overall relevance of RBPs in systematic miRNA sorting remains unclear. This study profiles intracellular and small extracellular vesicles' (sEVs) miRNAs in NPY-expressing hypothalamic neurons. These findings were corroborated by the publicly available sEV and intracellular miRNA profiles of white and brown adipocytes, endothelium, liver, and muscle from various databases...