Hypothalamic regulation of appetite by thyroid hormones

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Thyroid hormone is one of the most important mechanisms for controlling body function. The effects of a large excess or the absence of thyroid hormone is well known. However despite its importance of thyroid hormones their role in the day to day regulation of food intake is unknown. It is known that a large excess of T3 increases metabolic rate and this is thought to result in an indirect increase in appetite. However, recently we found that low doses of thyroid hormone increased food intake without affecting metabolic rate. This effect seemed to be mediated by part of the brain called the hypothalamus, specifically a region of the hypothalamus called the ventromedial nucleus (VMN). We now plan to establish the role of thyroid hormone in the VMN in the day to day regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Recently mice which have been genetically altered to allow levels of thyroid hormone or thyroid hormone receptors to be reduced in specific regions of the brain have been produced. Using these mice we will establish the role of thyroid hormones in regulating food intake on a day to day basis and identify the receptor which mediates these effects. This work will allow us to establish the role and importance of thyroid hormone in regulating food intake.