Abstract
It has long been known, in large part from animal studies, that the control of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis is insured by the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates several stimuli in order to control BAT activation through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). SNS-mediated BAT activity is governed by diverse neurons found in brain structures involved in homeostatic regulations and whose activity is modulated by various factors including oscillations of energy fluxes. The characterization of these neurons has always represented a challenging issue. The available literature suggests that the neuronal circuits controlling BAT thermogenesis are largely part of an autonomic circuitry involving the hypothalamus, brainstem and the SNS efferent neurons. In the present review, we recapitulate the latest progresses in regards to the hypothalamic regulation of BAT metabolism. We briefly addressed the role of the thermoregulatory pathway and its interactions with the energy balance systems in the control of thermogenesis. We also reviewed the involvement of the brain melanocortin and endocannabinoid systems as well as the emerging role of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) neurons in BAT thermogenesis. Finally, we examined the link existing between these systems and the homeostatic factors that modulate their activities.
Highlights
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) represents a major thermogenic effector
These results indicate that the endogenous endocannabinoids could, via possibly a pre-synaptic effects exerted at the level of the IML, inhibit the stimulating effects of the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) MC4R-containing neurons driving BAT activation
A role for the endocannabinoid system in steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1)-dependent regulation of BAT activity was suggested following the observation that CB1R mRNA was highly expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) (Richard et al, 2009), and that the deletion of CB1R in the hypothalamus led to an increase in energy expenditure (Cardinal et al, 2012)
Summary
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) represents a major thermogenic effector. BAT is found in relative abundance in small mammals, where it plays a key role in thermoregulatory thermogenesis (Cannon and Nedergaard, 2004). One other aspect that supports a role of BAT in energy balance regulation is the involvement of brain neuronal circuits in the control of thermogenesis via the sympathetic nervous system (SNS; Bartness and Ryu, 2015; Chechi and Richard, 2015).
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