The procognitive effects of leptin in the brain and their clinical implications.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone produced mainly by the adipose tissue. Its most well-known effect is to regulate food intake and energy metabolism within the hypothalamus. More recently, several peripheral and extra-hypothalamic effects have been described, expanding leptin's actions far beyond energy balance.

Aims

To review the extra-hypothalamic effects of leptin and their possible clinical implications.

Methods

We did a PubMed search using the terms "leptin" AND "brain" AND "neuron" AND "glial", and selected the most relevant articles.

Results

In extra-hypothalamic sites, leptin has remarkable effects on neurogenesis, axon growth, synaptogenesis, denditric morphology, development of oligodendroglial cells, neuron excitability, neuroprotection and

SUBMITTER: Paz-Filho G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2998704 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature