Brain Estrogens and Metabolism

Abstract

Recent observations have demonstrated that the ovarian steroid estrogen, acting through one of its receptors, specifically estrogen receptor-α (ERα), in distinct regions in the central nervous system (CNS), is responsible for body weight regulation. The ventral medial hypothalamus (VMH) contains two key nuclei, the arcuate (ARC), which contains populations of neurons that regulate food intake and body weight, and the ventral medial nucleus (VMN). The VMN alone has not been found to have a prominent role in the regulation of food intake and body weight, but does influence energy expenditure. ERα is expressed in the CNS, and estrogenic activation of ERα in discrete brain nuclei is required for the coordinated control of food intake and energy expenditure. Further, we discuss data suggesting that the effects of estrogens on food intake and energy expenditure are mediated by estrogenic enhancement/augmentation of peripheral and neuronal signals in distinct hypothalamic neurons. In sum, estrogens are critical regulators of body weight homeostasis.