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Departments of Neurology (J.K.E., C.B.S.) and Medicine and Division of Endocrinology (R.S.A., J.S.F.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and The Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School (E.M.-F.), Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Joel K. Elmquist, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Leptin is a circulating protein secreted by adipocytes which has profound feeding, metabolic, and neuroendocrine effects. Leptin receptors have been localized to the hypothalamus, but the anatomic sites responsible for mediating the effects of circulating leptin have not been demonstrated. We report that systemic administration of leptin activates nuclear groups in the ventrobasal hypothalamus, including the ventromedial, dorsomedial, and ventral premammillary hypothalamic nuclei. Leptin also activated the parvicellular subdivisions of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus that project to parasympathetic and sympathetic preganglionic neurons. Finally, leptin administration activated the superior lateral parabrachial subnucleus, a nuclear group containing cholecystokinin neurons that project to the ventrobasal hypothalamus. These findings indicate that circulating leptin activates specific nuclear groups in the hypothalamus and brainstem known to regulate complex physiological responses during times of substrate availability.
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J. F. Kelly, C. F. Elias, C. E. Lee, R. S. Ahima, R. J. Seeley, C. Bjorbaek, T. Oka, C. B. Saper, J. S. Flier, and J. K. Elmquist Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor and Leptin Induce Distinct Patterns of Immediate Early Gene Expression in the Brain Diabetes, April 1, 2004; 53(4): 911 - 920. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. G. Myers Jr. Leptin Receptor Signaling and the Regulation of Mammalian Physiology Recent Prog. Horm. Res., January 1, 2004; 59(1): 287 - 304. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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C. Bjorbaek and B. B. Kahn Leptin Signaling in the Central Nervous System and the Periphery Recent Prog. Horm. Res., January 1, 2004; 59(1): 305 - 331. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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K. L.J. Ellacott and R. D. Cone The Central Melanocortin System and the Integration of Short- and Long-term Regulators of Energy Homeostasis Recent Prog. Horm. Res., January 1, 2004; 59(1): 395 - 408. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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M. Bagnasco, M. G. Dube, P. S. Kalra, and S. P. Kalra Evidence for the Existence of Distinct Central Appetite, Energy Expenditure, and Ghrelin Stimulation Pathways as Revealed by Hypothalamic Site-Specific Leptin Gene Therapy Endocrinology, November 1, 2002; 143(11): 4409 - 4421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. Hosoi, T. Kawagishi, Y. Okuma, J. Tanaka, and Y. Nomura Brain Stem Is a Direct Target for Leptin's Action in the Central Nervous System Endocrinology, September 1, 2002; 143(9): 3498 - 3504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Haberland, A. F. Schilling, J. M. Rueger, and M. Amling Brain and Bone: Central Regulation of Bone Mass : A New Paradigm in Skeletal Biology J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., December 1, 2001; 83(12): 1871 - 1876. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Malick, M. Jakubowski, J. K. Elmquist, C. B. Saper, and R. Burstein A neurohistochemical blueprint for pain-induced loss of appetite PNAS, August 14, 2001; 98(17): 9930 - 9935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. Hubschle, E. Thom, A. Watson, J. Roth, S. Klaus, and W. Meyerhof Leptin-Induced Nuclear Translocation of STAT3 Immunoreactivity in Hypothalamic Nuclei Involved in Body Weight Regulation J. Neurosci., April 1, 2001; 21(7): 2413 - 2424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Shimizu-Albergine, D. L. Ippolito, and J. A. Beavo Downregulation of Fasting-Induced cAMP Response Element-Mediated Gene Induction by Leptin in Neuropeptide Y Neurons of the Arcuate Nucleus J. Neurosci., February 15, 2001; 21(4): 1238 - 1246. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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D. L. Marks, N. Ling, and R. D. Cone Role of the Central Melanocortin System in Cachexia Cancer Res., February 1, 2001; 61(4): 1432 - 1438. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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P. D. Finn, M. J. Cunningham, D. G. Rickard, D. K. Clifton, and R. A. Steiner Serotonergic Neurons Are Targets for Leptin in the Monkey J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2001; 86(1): 422 - 426. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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M. Jang, A. Mistry, A. G. Swick, and D. R. Romsos Leptin Rapidly Inhibits Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y Secretion and Stimulates Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion in Adrenalectomized Mice J. Nutr., November 1, 2000; 130(11): 2813 - 2820. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. S. Banks, S. M. Davis, S. H. Bates, and M. G. Myers Jr. Activation of Downstream Signals by the Long Form of the Leptin Receptor J. Biol. Chem., May 5, 2000; 275(19): 14563 - 14572. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. Caprio, A. M. Isidori, A. R. Carta, C. Moretti, M. L. Dufau, and A. Fabbri Expression of Functional Leptin Receptors in Rodent Leydig Cells Endocrinology, November 1, 1999; 140(11): 4939 - 4947. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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C.-S. Yuan, A. S. Attele, J. A. Wu, L. Zhang, and Z. Q. Shi Peripheral gastric leptin modulates brain stem neuronal activity in neonates Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, September 1, 1999; 277(3): G626 - G630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. S. Brogan, S. E. Mitchell, P. Trayhurn, and M. S. Smith Suppression of Leptin During Lactation: Contribution of the Suckling Stimulus Versus Milk Production Endocrinology, June 1, 1999; 140(6): 2621 - 2627. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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C. Bjørbæk, J. K. Elmquist, K. El-Haschimi, J. Kelly, R. S. Ahima, S. Hileman, and J. S. Flier Activation of SOCS-3 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Hypothalamus by Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Endocrinology, May 1, 1999; 140(5): 2035 - 2043. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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D. G. Baskin, M. W. Schwartz, R. J. Seeley, S. C. Woods, D. Porte , Jr., J. F. Breininger, Z. Jonak, J. Schaefer, M. Krouse, C. Burghardt, et al. Leptin Receptor Long-form Splice-variant Protein Expression in Neuron Cell Bodies of the Brain and Co-localization with Neuropeptide Y mRNA in the Arcuate Nucleus J. Histochem. Cytochem., March 1, 1999; 47(3): 353 - 362. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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B. A. Henry, J. W. Goding, W. S. Alexander, A. J. Tilbrook, B. J. Canny, F. Dunshea, A. Rao, A. Mansell, and I. J. Clarke Central Administration of Leptin to Ovariectomized Ewes Inhibits Food Intake without Affecting the Secretion of Hormones from the Pituitary Gland: Evidence for a Dissociation of Effects on Appetite and Neuroendocrine Function Endocrinology, March 1, 1999; 140(3): 1175 - 1182. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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S. P. Kalra, M. G. Dube, S. Pu, B. Xu, T. L. Horvath, and P. S. Kalra Interacting Appetite-Regulating Pathways in the Hypothalamic Regulation of Body Weight Endocr. Rev., February 1, 1999; 20(1): 68 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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M. Tang-Christensen, P. J. Havel, R. R. Jacobs, P. J. Larsen, and J. L. Cameron Central Administration of Leptin Inhibits Food Intake and Activates the Sympathetic Nervous System in Rhesus Macaques J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1999; 84(2): 711 - 717. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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J. Licinio, A. B. Negrão, C. Mantzoros, V. Kaklamani, M.-L. Wong, P. B. Bongiorno, P. P. Negro, A. Mulla, J. D. Veldhuis, L. Cearnal, et al. Sex Differences in Circulating Human Leptin Pulse Amplitude: Clinical Implications J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 1998; 83(11): 4140 - 4147. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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K. C. McCowen, J. C. Chow, and R. J. Smith Leptin Signaling in the Hypothalamus of Normal Rats in Vivo Endocrinology, November 1, 1998; 139(11): 4442 - 4447. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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N. A. Tritos, J. K. Elmquist, J. W. Mastaitis, J. S. Flier, and E. Maratos-Flier Characterization of Expression of Hypothalamic Appetite-Regulating Peptides in Obese Hyperleptinemic Brown Adipose Tissue-Deficient (Uncoupling Protein-Promoter-Driven Diphtheria Toxin A) Mice Endocrinology, November 1, 1998; 139(11): 4634 - 4641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. J. Bartness and M. Bamshad Innervation of mammalian white adipose tissue: implications for the regulation of total body fat Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 1998; 275(5): R1399 - R1411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Makino, M. Nishiyama, K. Asaba, P. W. Gold, and K. Hashimoto Altered expression of type 2 CRH receptor mRNA in the VMH by glucocorticoids and starvation Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 1998; 275(4): R1138 - R1145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. J. Ramsey, J. W. Kemnitz, R. J. Colman, D. Cunningham, and A. G. Swick Different Central and Peripheral Responses to Leptin in Rhesus Monkeys: Brain Transport May Be Limited J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1998; 83(9): 3230 - 3235. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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M. C. Flynn, T. R. Scott, T. C. Pritchard, and C. R. Plata-Salaman Mode of action of OB protein (leptin) on feeding Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 1998; 275(1): R174 - R179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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B. N. Finck, K. W. Kelley, R. Dantzer, and R. W. Johnson In Vivo and in Vitro Evidence for the Involvement of Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha} in the Induction of Leptin by Lipopolysaccharide Endocrinology, May 1, 1998; 139(5): 2278 - 2283. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. E. Powis, J. S. Bains, and A. V. Ferguson Leptin depolarizes rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 1998; 274(5): R1468 - R1472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. E. Spurlock, G. R. Frank, S. G. Cornelius, S. Ji,, G. M. Willis, and C. A. Bidwell Obese Gene Expression in Porcine Adipose Tissue Is Reduced by Food Deprivation but not by Maintenance or Submaintenance Intake J. Nutr., April 1, 1998; 128(4): 677 - 682. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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J. K. Elmquist, R. S. Ahima, C. F. Elias, J. S. Flier, and C. B. Saper Leptin activates distinct projections from the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei PNAS, January 20, 1998; 95(2): 741 - 746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. G. Mercer, K. M. Moar, and N. Hoggard Localization of Leptin Receptor (Ob-R) Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Rodent Hindbrain Endocrinology, January 1, 1998; 139(1): 29 - 34. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. Bjorbak, S. Uotani, B. da Silva, and J. S. Flier Divergent Signaling Capacities of the Long and Short Isoforms of the Leptin Receptor J. Biol. Chem., December 19, 1997; 272(51): 32686 - 32695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. D. Barrachina, V. Martinez, L. Wang, J. Y. Wei, and Y. Tache Synergistic interaction between leptin and cholecystokinin to reduce short-term food intake in lean mice PNAS, September 16, 1997; 94(19): 10455 - 10460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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