Exploring the Brain Signal Pathway Controlling Food Intake with Dr. Vogt

The intricate connection between peripheral metabolism and central nervous system functioning is a topic of growing interest in neuroscience. Phospholipids, a type of lipid crucial for cell membrane structure, play a significant role in synaptic regulation, glutamatergic transmission, and overall cortical excitability within the brain. However, how changes in peripheral metabolism might affect these brain lipid levels and, subsequently, cortical excitability is an area still in need of exploration.In this episode, we welcome Dr. Vogt, whose groundbreaking research is shedding light on this compelling question. His study discovered that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) type levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are elevated after overnight fasting, leading to increased cortical excitability. This spike in LPA-related cortical excitability also enhances fasting-induced hyperphagia, a phenomenon that is reduced following the inhibition of LPA synthesis.We delve into intriguing findings, like how mice with a human mutation (Prg-1R346T) leading to higher synaptic lipid-mediated cortical excitability displayed increased fasting-induced hyperphagia. This mutation in humans was linked to a higher body mass index and a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Dr. Vogt further explores the critical role of hypothalamic agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in regulating the effects of LPA after fasting. When AgRP-expressing cells were depleted in adult mice, the fasting-induced elevation of circulating LPAs and cortical excitability was decreased, effectively blunting hyperphagia.Join us as we navigate these fascinating insights with Dr. Vogt, shedding light on a potentially transformative understanding of how the hypothalamus can impact the cortex and affect food intake through non-neuronal routes.Keywords: Dr. Vogt, phospholipids, lysophosphatidic acid, cortical excitability, hyperphagia, peripheral metabolism, central nervous system, hypothalamic agouti-related peptide neurons, glutamatergic transmission, food intake, body mass index, type 2 diabetes.Endle, H., Horta, G., Stutz, B. et al. AgRP neurons control feeding behavior at cortical synapses via peripherally derived lysophospholipids. Na (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00589-7