A group of researchers identifies a new region in the brain where the hormone leptin acts upon and subsequently control the regulation of body weight. They report that, in mice, in addition to the area called the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, which is already known to be a target of leptin signaling, an area referred to as the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is also important in leptin response.

The researchers noted that the combined effects on obesity of the deficiency of VMH leptin receptors and high-fat feeding were greater than expected from the individual components added together.

"This synergistic interaction strongly suggests that leptin action on [the VMH neurons] plays a particularly important role in resisting high-fat-diet-induced obesity."

The results of the mice experiments are published in Neuron (January 19, 2006, DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.12.021).

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