Leptin signaling in POMC neurons regulates plasma leptin levels and is critical to mediate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation during fasting.

ABSTRACT: The reduction in plasma leptin levels is crucial for the brain to perceive negative energy balance and activate adaptive responses, including activating corticotrophin-releasing factor neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (CRF^PVN). Notably, leptin receptor (Lepr) expression is rare in the PVN, and there are no reports of Lepr colocalization with CRF, suggesting that the effects of leptin on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are mediated by indirect pathways. Since Lepr is abundantly expressed in agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the ARC, we investigated the effects of deleting Lepr in these neurons on HPA axis activity during fasting and leptin treatment. Deletion of Lepr in AgRP neurons did not affect fasti

SUBMITTER: Ferreira NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12263973 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature