Leptin activates hypothalamic CART neurons projecting to the spinal cord

Carol F. Elias; Charlotte Lee; Joseph Kelly; Carl Aschkenasi; Rexford S. Ahima; Pastor R. Couceyro; Michael J. Kuhar; Clifford B. Saper; Joel K. Elmquist

doi:10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80656-X

Leptin activates hypothalamic CART neurons projecting to the spinal cord

Carol F. Elias, Charlotte Lee, Joseph Kelly, Carl Aschkenasi, Rexford S. Ahima, Pastor R. Couceyro, Michael J. Kuhar, Clifford B. Saper, Joel K. Elmquist

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

628 Scopus citations

Abstract

The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin decreases body weight in part by activating the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure. We investigated hypothalamic pathways underlying leptin's effects on stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. We found that leptin activates neurons in the retrochiasmatic area (RCA) and lateral arcuate nucleus (Arc) that innervate the thoracic spinal cord and also contain cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). We also found that most CART-containing neurons in the RCA and Arc of the hypothalamus also contain proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA. The finding that leptin activates CART/POMC neurons innervating sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the thoracic spinal cord suggests that this pathway may contribute to the increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure and decreased body weight observed following leptin administration.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1375-1385
Number of pages	11
Journal	Neuron
Volume	21
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80656-X
State	Published - Dec 1998
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience

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title = "Leptin activates hypothalamic CART neurons projecting to the spinal cord",

abstract = "The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin decreases body weight in part by activating the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure. We investigated hypothalamic pathways underlying leptin's effects on stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. We found that leptin activates neurons in the retrochiasmatic area (RCA) and lateral arcuate nucleus (Arc) that innervate the thoracic spinal cord and also contain cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). We also found that most CART-containing neurons in the RCA and Arc of the hypothalamus also contain proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA. The finding that leptin activates CART/POMC neurons innervating sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the thoracic spinal cord suggests that this pathway may contribute to the increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure and decreased body weight observed following leptin administration.",

author = "Elias, {Carol F.} and Charlotte Lee and Joseph Kelly and Carl Aschkenasi and Ahima, {Rexford S.} and Couceyro, {Pastor R.} and Kuhar, {Michael J.} and Saper, {Clifford B.} and Elmquist, {Joel K.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Dr. Michael Uhler for the POMC probe, Dr. Jeff Tatro for the α-MSH antisera, and Quan Ha for expert technical assistance. This work was supported by United States Public Health Service grants RR00165, DK53301, DA10732, and NS33987; American Heart Association grant-in aid 9413110; research support from Eli Lilly (J. K. E.); and a postdoctoral fellowship from Funda{\~a}o de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de S{\~a}o Paulo (96/7884–4), S{\~a}o Paulo, Brazil (C. F. E).",

year = "1998",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80656-X",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Leptin activates hypothalamic CART neurons projecting to the spinal cord

AU - Elias, Carol F.

AU - Lee, Charlotte

AU - Kelly, Joseph

AU - Aschkenasi, Carl

AU - Ahima, Rexford S.

AU - Couceyro, Pastor R.

AU - Kuhar, Michael J.

AU - Saper, Clifford B.

AU - Elmquist, Joel K.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank Dr. Michael Uhler for the POMC probe, Dr. Jeff Tatro for the α-MSH antisera, and Quan Ha for expert technical assistance. This work was supported by United States Public Health Service grants RR00165, DK53301, DA10732, and NS33987; American Heart Association grant-in aid 9413110; research support from Eli Lilly (J. K. E.); and a postdoctoral fellowship from Fundaão de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (96/7884–4), São Paulo, Brazil (C. F. E).

PY - 1998/12

Y1 - 1998/12

N2 - The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin decreases body weight in part by activating the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure. We investigated hypothalamic pathways underlying leptin's effects on stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. We found that leptin activates neurons in the retrochiasmatic area (RCA) and lateral arcuate nucleus (Arc) that innervate the thoracic spinal cord and also contain cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). We also found that most CART-containing neurons in the RCA and Arc of the hypothalamus also contain proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA. The finding that leptin activates CART/POMC neurons innervating sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the thoracic spinal cord suggests that this pathway may contribute to the increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure and decreased body weight observed following leptin administration.

AB - The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin decreases body weight in part by activating the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure. We investigated hypothalamic pathways underlying leptin's effects on stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. We found that leptin activates neurons in the retrochiasmatic area (RCA) and lateral arcuate nucleus (Arc) that innervate the thoracic spinal cord and also contain cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). We also found that most CART-containing neurons in the RCA and Arc of the hypothalamus also contain proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA. The finding that leptin activates CART/POMC neurons innervating sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the thoracic spinal cord suggests that this pathway may contribute to the increased thermogenesis and energy expenditure and decreased body weight observed following leptin administration.

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Leptin activates hypothalamic CART neurons projecting to the spinal cord

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