News & Publications

• Estrogen-sensitive brain circuit may help women control obesity by stimulating physical activity and thermogenesis, animal study suggests. (2022) www.sciencedaily.com
  Brain Obesity Metabolism Hormones Estrogen Thermogenesis

  From the article:

  The team reveals in the journal Science Advances an estrogen-activated neurocircuit that stimulates thermogenesis, or body heat production, and physical activity in animal models. The circuit begins in neurons located in a region of the hypothalamus called the ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (vlVMH). These neurons interact with estrogen via estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and respond to the hormone by connecting to and communicating with serotonin-producing neurons located in another brain region called dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN).

  The circuit not only responds to estrogen, but also to changes in ambient temperature and in the nutritional status of the animal. Interestingly, the circuit seems to be functional in males but, at this point, its physiological relevance is not clear.

  […]

  “For example, the circuit can be activated when it’s cold, stimulating thermogenesis and physical activity, which would help the animal stay warm,” Xu said. “The circuit can be inhibited when the animal is hungry, which would shut down thermogenesis and physical activity, saving energy to adapt to the lack of nutrients.”

  View full publication

  Read more
• Environmental enrichment alone produces browning of fat and enhanced weight control not accountable by exercise alone [animal study]
  Brain Obesity Memory Fat BDNF Thermogenesis

  From the article:

  “Up to now the only known approach to inducing brown fat has been through exposure to chronic cold. Our research reveals a novel way of doing this without cold exposure. We show that animals living in an enriched environment become lean and resistant to diet-induced obesity, even in the presence of unlimited food.”

  […]

  The current study used a similarly designed environment, with 15-20 mice housed in large containers equipped with running wheels, tunnels, huts, wood toys, a maze, and nesting material, in addition to unlimited food and water.

  Key findings include the following:

  • Enriched animals showed a significant reduction in abdominal white fat mass (49 percent less than controls).

  • Exercise (running in a wheel) alone did not account for the changes in body composition and metabolism of enriched animals.

  • Fed a high fat diet (45 percent fat), enriched animals gained 29 percent less weight than control mice and remained lean, with no change in food intake. Enriched animals also had a higher body temperature, suggesting that greater energy output, not suppressed appetite, led to the resistance to obesity.

  Read more