This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bouret, S. G. Articles by Simerly, R. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bouret, S. G. Articles by Simerly, R. B.

Minireview: Leptin and Development of Hypothalamic Feeding Circuits

Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience and Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon 97006

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Sebastien G. Bouret, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Neuroscience and Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006.

The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) is a critical component of the forebrain pathways that regulate energy homeostasis, and it plays a particularly important role in relaying leptin signal to other part of the hypothalamus. However, until recently, little was known about the development of these critical pathways. Recent work investigating the development of leptin-sensitive hypothalamic pathways suggests possible developmental mechanisms that may contribute to obesity later in life. Anatomic findings indicate that ARH circuits are structurally and functionally immature until the third week of postnatal life in mice. Recent data also suggest that leptin is required for normal development of ARH pathways and that this developmental activity of leptin is restricted to a neonatal window of maximum sensitivity that corresponds to a period of elevated leptin secretion. Thus, leptin may function to organize formation of hypothalamic circuitry in much the same way that sex steroids act on sexually dimorphic circuits. Perturbations in perinatal nutrition that alter leptin levels may, therefore, have enduring consequences for the formation and function of circuits regulating food intake and body weight.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Remmers, L. A. W. Verhagen, R. A. H. Adan, and H. A. Delemarre-van de Waal Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Expression of Juvenile and Middle-Aged Rats after Early Postnatal Food Restriction Endocrinology, July 1, 2008; 149(7): 3617 - 3625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Vickers, P. D. Gluckman, A. H. Coveny, P. L. Hofman, W. S. Cutfield, A. Gertler, B. H. Breier, and M. Harris The Effect of Neonatal Leptin Treatment on Postnatal Weight Gain in Male Rats Is Dependent on Maternal Nutritional Status during Pregnancy Endocrinology, April 1, 2008; 149(4): 1906 - 1913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Delahaye, C. Breton, P.-Y. Risold, M. Enache, I. Dutriez-Casteloot, C. Laborie, J. Lesage, and D. Vieau Maternal Perinatal Undernutrition Drastically Reduces Postnatal Leptin Surge and Affects the Development of Arcuate Nucleus Proopiomelanocortin Neurons in Neonatal Male Rat Pups Endocrinology, February 1, 2008; 149(2): 470 - 475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Patterson, A. A. Dunn-Meynell, and B. E. Levin Three weeks of early-onset exercise prolongs obesity resistance in DIO rats after exercise cessation Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2008; 294(2): R290 - R301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Spencer, A. Mouihate, M. A. Galic, S. L. Ellis, and Q. J. Pittman Neonatal immune challenge does not affect body weight regulation in rats Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): R581 - R589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. H. Trevenzoli, M. M. R. Valle, F. B. Machado, R. M. G. Garcia, M. C. F. Passos, P. C. Lisboa, and E. G. Moura Neonatal hyperleptinaemia programmes adrenal medullary function in adult rats: effects on cardiovascular parameters J. Physiol., April 15, 2007; 580(2): 629 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F Domine, A-S Parent, G Rasier, M-C Lebrethon, and J-P Bourguignon Assessment and mechanism of variations in pubertal timing in internationally adopted children: a developmental hypothesis Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(suppl_1): S17 - S25. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Zeidan, S. Javadov, and M. Karmazyn Essential role of Rho/ROCK-dependent processes and actin dynamics in mediating leptin-induced hypertrophy in rat neonatal ventricular myocytes Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2006; 72(1): 101 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. E Levin Metabolic imprinting: critical impact of the perinatal environment on the regulation of energy homeostasis Phil Trans R Soc B, July 29, 2006; 361(1471): 1107 - 1121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Asarian and N. Geary Modulation of appetite by gonadal steroid hormones Phil Trans R Soc B, July 29, 2006; 361(1471): 1251 - 1263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Vickers, P. D. Gluckman, A. H. Coveny, P. L. Hofman, W. S. Cutfield, A. Gertler, B. H. Breier, and M. Harris Neonatal Leptin Treatment Reverses Developmental Programming Endocrinology, October 1, 2005; 146(10): 4211 - 4216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]