Neurocircuits Regulating (Diet-Induced) Adaptive Thermogenesis
Central mechanisms of energy conservation during caloric excess
This project investigates hypothalamic neural populations that modulate systemic metabolism in response to energy-dense diets. These neurons suppress thermogenesis and energy expenditure, promoting energy conservation during caloric excess.
Using a combination of modern neuroscience tools, including chemogenetics, circuit tracing, and transcriptomic analysi, we have identified a diet-sensitive neural circuit that modulates autonomic output to peripheral metabolic tissues. Functional studies indicate that this pathway projects to a key hypothalamic center involved in sympathetic regulation, where its activation leads to reduced thermogenic activity.
Our findings provide insight into how the brain adapts to energy-dense environments by shifting metabolic priorities, revealing a central mechanism for energy conservation.
