Molecular and functional mapping of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus: a new era begins

Lee TH(1), Nicolas JC(1), Quarta C(2).

Author information:
(1)University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, 33000, Bordeaux,
France.
(2)University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, 33000, Bordeaux,
France. .

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in neuroscience tools for single-cell molecular
profiling of brain neurons have revealed an enormous spectrum of neuronal
subpopulations within the neuroendocrine hypothalamus, highlighting the
remarkable molecular and cellular heterogeneity of this brain area.
RATIONALE: Neuronal diversity in the hypothalamus reflects the high functional
plasticity of this brain area, where multiple neuronal populations flexibly
integrate a variety of physiological outputs, including energy balance, stress
and fertility, through crosstalk mechanisms with peripheral hormones. Intrinsic
functional heterogeneity is also observed within classically ‘defined’
subpopulations of neuroendocrine neurons, including subtypes with distinct
neurochemical signatures, spatial organisation and responsiveness to hormonal
cues.
AIM: The aim of this review is to critically evaluate past and current research
on the functional diversity of hypothalamic neuroendocrine neurons and their
plasticity. It focuses on how this neuronal plasticity in this brain area
relates to metabolic control, feeding regulation and interactions with stress
and fertility-related neural circuits.
CONCLUSION: Our analysis provides an original framework for improving our
understanding of the hypothalamic regulation of hormone function and the
development of neuroendocrine diseases.

© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Italian Society of
Endocrinology (SIE).

DOI: 10.1007/s40618-024-02411-5
PMID: 38878127

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