AgRP neurons encode circadian feeding time

Effects of chronic high fat diet on mediobasal hypothalamic satiety neuron function in POMC-Cre mice

“…The effects of continuous consumption of certain diets on metabolic regulation in the peripheral and central nervous systems have been extensively investigated. Maladaptations in the neural networks and endocrine system in pathophysiology of obesity has recently gained more attention [ 1 , [7] , [8] , [9] ]. It has been suggested that excessive consumption of a high-fat diet may affect energy metabolism in the long term, disrupt hypothalamic neural networks and lead to obesity [ [10] , [11] , [12] ].…”

Hypothalamic AgRP neurons regulate the hyperphagia of lactation

“…Among the cell types controlling feeding behavior, the hypothalamic agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons are well characterized as a critical cell type mediating behavioral, autonomic, and neuroendocrine responses to energy deprivation [ [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] ]. AgRP neurons directly sense stored energy in the form of leptin from fat [ [17] , [18] , [19] ], gut-derived satiety hormones [ 20 , 21 ], and glucose levels in the blood [ 16 , 22 ], and are activated in response to energy deprivation [ 17 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…For example, AgRP neurons are rapidly inhibited in hungry mice by the sight or smell of food [ 12 , 21 , 25 , 26 ], and cues predicting impending food availability [ 25 , 26 ]. Conversely, in time-restricted feeding assays the in vivo dynamics of AgRP neurons reflect the periods of expected food delivery, with AgRP neuron activity peaking immediately prior to the time of expected food availability [ 11 ]. Ultimately, activation of AgRP neurons leads to the release of the melanocortin receptor antagonist AgRP, GABA, and neuropeptide Y (NPY), which act at downstream brain regions to stimulate feeding behavior [ 16 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Editorial: Recent advances in sleep and circadian rhythms: the hypothalamus and its relationship with appetite

“…Such clocks have been described in many peripheral tissues, but also in different regions of the hypothalamus (Guilding et al, 2009 ). Here, they have been implicated in appetite regulation across the day and energy homeostasis (Cedernaes et al, 2019a ; Sayar-Atasoy et al, 2024 ).…”