Characterisation of oligodendrocyte plasticity in the adult median eminence and its role in the regulation of energy balance

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Oligodendrocytes are brain cells that isolate axons to allow fast transmission of electrical signals. They are formed during the first years of life in humans, but recent studies show that some continue to be formed in adulthood in response to environmental challenges, for example during the acquisition of new motor skills. We found that nutritional signals regulate the formation of new oligodendrocytes in adults in a region of the brain that controls appetite and weight gain. Our aim is to determine how these new cells contribute to the regulation of appetite and the maintenance of body weight, and whether this process is impaired in obesity. This research will increase our understanding of how nutrition regulates 1-the formation of new oligodendrocytes in adults, and 2- brain pathways controlling appetite and body weight. Potential applications include new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of obesity and demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.