Neural Regulation of Metabolism

This book systemically depicts the mechanisms underlying the neural regulation of metabolism. The epidemic of metabolic diseases, including obesity and its associated diseases, currently affects more than 500 million people worldwide. Recent research has shown that the neural regulation of metabolism is emerging as a central mechanism controlling the metabolic status physiologically and pathophysiologically. In this book, it first introduces the progress in the studies of the neural and cellular mechanisms of hypothalamic neurons, hypothalamic glial cells, neural circuitries, cellular signaling pathways, and synaptic plasticity in the control of appetite, body weight, feeding-related behaviors and metabolic disorders. Second, the humoral mechanisms by which critical adipocyte-derived hormones and lipoprotein lipase regulate lipid and glucose metabolism will be summarized. Third, the role for the hypothalamus-sympathetic nerve, a critical nerve pathway from CNS to peripheral nervous system (PNS), in the regulation of metabolism in multiple tissues/organs will be presented. Fourth, the functions of adipose tissues, mitochondria, as well as the endoplasmic reticulum stress in the energy metabolism will be discussed. Fifth, some clinical dietary interventions to treat neural diseases are introduced. In the last part of this book, we will introduce some newly-emerged technology used in the study on the neural regulation of metabolism. This book will provide with the cutting-edge developments in neural regulation of metabolism and serve as a valuable reference for graduate students and researchers in the field of neuroscience and metabolism.