DIET-INDUCED OBESITY ALTERS THE CENTRAL ACTIONS OF GHRELIN
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$38,599.00
Summary
Ghrelin is a hormone that primarily targets the brain to increase food intake and body weight. It has evolved to prevent starvation during periods of negative energy balance by promoting energy intake and storage. We have identified central ghrelin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) as a novel disturbed neuroendocrine system that restricts excessive food intake. Therefore, a novel approach to treat DIO is to exploit or enhance these intrinsic mechanisms that restrict the development of obe ....Ghrelin is a hormone that primarily targets the brain to increase food intake and body weight. It has evolved to prevent starvation during periods of negative energy balance by promoting energy intake and storage. We have identified central ghrelin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) as a novel disturbed neuroendocrine system that restricts excessive food intake. Therefore, a novel approach to treat DIO is to exploit or enhance these intrinsic mechanisms that restrict the development of obesity.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Brain Inflammation In Leptin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$730,123.00
Summary
Melanocortin neurons control body weight and are regulated by leptin. In obesity leptin cannot regulate the melanocortin system. We will test if leptin action on melanocortin neurons is limited by increased expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) in obese mice. As an alternative we will test if there are changes in the blood brain barrier, or an increased density of support and immune cells around melanocortin neurons of obese mice that might restrict inputs to these neurons.
Understanding How The Brain Senses And Encodes Hunger And Satiety
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
Obesity is the most important health concern in the world today. Despite all the epidemiology evidence and despite the intervention approaches, obesity and type-2 diabetes continues to rise in Australia and worldwide. Clearly, a greater biological understanding of the mechanisms driving increased calorie intake and decreased calorie expenditure. This fellowship explores the different neural circuits in the brain and how they regulate motivation for food and food consumption
Hormonal Regulation Of NPY Neurons In The Arcuate Nucleus Of The Hypothalamus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,677.00
Summary
Obesity is a serious medical concern affecting the social, medical and economic capabilities within Australia. This proposal examines the hormonal regulation of cells in the brain inducing appetite. By understanding how these hormones influence appetite-inducing cells, we hope to identify effective targets to treat food intake and body weight gain.
Effects Of Melanocortin Neurons On Systemic Glucose Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,251.00
Summary
There is good evidence that the brain can control blood glucose, but we do not know how this occurs, or why this doesn’t work in diabetes. This grant will use cutting edge mouse genetic technology to determine how the brain controls blood glucose, and what changes in diabetes. This grant will determine how several hormones act through the brain to change glucose levels, and will help develop new strategies to treat high blood glucose.
Obesity: The Role Of Neuropeptide Y, Melanocortin And Serotonin Systems In Development And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$258,000.00
Summary
This project is about the study of central regulation of energy balance contributing to protection or development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life threatening diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with their enormous costs both socially and financially. Development of human obesity and its related metabolic disorders is a long term process generally develops over a long period and event ....This project is about the study of central regulation of energy balance contributing to protection or development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Obesity is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life threatening diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease with their enormous costs both socially and financially. Development of human obesity and its related metabolic disorders is a long term process generally develops over a long period and eventually becomes a chronic condition. Generally, chronic consumption of high-energy food in excess of expenditure leads to excessive fat accumulation and promotes the development of obesity. However, studies on both humans and experimental animals have revealed that not all individuals become obese on a high-energy diet; thus, individual susceptibility is an important phenomenon allowing us to search for the genes contributing to the individuals' susceptibility or resistance to diet-induced obesity and to identify for effective targets for both prevention and treatment of obesity. Using the animal models developed in our laboratory, the proposed research aims to demonstrate the differences in the central regulation between the mice resistant or susceptible to the development of chronic high-energy diet-induced obesity. Outcomes of this project will provide us with: 1) better targets for the prevention of diet-induced obesity; (2) more effective treatments for the late stage of obesity and its related metabolic disorders; and (3) a better understanding of the individual susceptibility to diet-induced obesity.Read moreRead less