Amygdala aromatase controls food intake, reward, and thermoregulation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Estrogens play a pivotal role in energy balance control, by acting on its CNS receptors. It is generally assumed that the gonads are the main source of estradiol for these receptors. However, aromatase, the sole enzyme responsible for estradiol synthesis, is also present in the brain, and its role in energy balance remains largely unexplored.

Methods and results

We identified high aromatase expression in the neurons of rat amygdala and investigated whether brain-derived estradiol, particularly within the amygdala, plays a role in energy balance and food reward control. Both whole brain chronic pharmacological inhibition of aromatase with a clinically utilized inhibitor, Letrozole, and a virogenetic approach to manipulate aromatase specifically in the amygdala were

SUBMITTER: Maric I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12309489 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature