ROLE(S) OF THE VENTROMEDIAL NUCLEI IN HPA AXIS FUNCTION

这些实验的目的是了解腹内侧 核（VMN）直接神经和激素代谢信号，可能发挥作用， 在临床高血压、肥胖和糖尿病的发展中的作用。 我们实验室最近的工作表明，下丘脑的调节- 垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴的功能是嵌入在一个更大的下丘脑 系统调节能量平衡。 下丘脑的VMN是不可或缺的 进食行为、体重、肾上腺皮质活动和胰岛素 分泌物 我们建议研究VMN对HPA的整合作用 轴，喂养和胰岛素分泌;我们将测试假设， 涉及来自边缘系统和内脏输入的VMN输入。 一是 将调查VMN对皮质类固醇反馈HPA功能的贡献。 其次，我们将测量HPA中的昼夜节律 活动，以及禁食对这些节律的影响，是由VMN介导的， 驱动输入下丘脑室旁核（PVN），其中包含 神经内分泌运动输出到HPA轴。 最后，我们将尝试 确定盐皮质激素受体是否引导皮质酮 在VMN损伤的大鼠中观察到的反馈是由VMN的输入介导的 腹侧杏仁核-海马区细胞群以及VMN是否 活动对食物摄入和HPA轴活动的调节， 臂旁外侧核的胆囊收缩素。

The purpose of these experiments is to understand how the ventromedial nuclei (VMN) direct neural and hormonal metabolic signals that may play a role in the development of clinical hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Recent work from our lab has shown that the regulation of hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function is embedded in a larger hypothalamic system regulates energy balance. The VMN of the hypothalamus are integral to feeding behavior, body weight, adrenocortical activity, and insulin secretion. We propose to study the integrative role VMN have on the HPA axis, feeding, and insulin secretion; we will test the hypothesis that inputs to the VMN from limbic and visceral inputs are involved. First, we will survey VMN's contribution to corticosteroid feedback on HPA function. Second, we will measure the degree to which circadian rhythms in HPA activity, and the effects of fasting on these rhythms, are mediated by VMN- driven input to the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN) which contain the neuroendocrine motor output to the HPA axis. Finally, we will try to determine if the mineralocorticoid-receptor directed corticosterone feedback observed in rats with VMN lesions is mediated by inputs to VMN from cell groups in the ventral amygdalo-hippocampal area and whether VMN activity on food intake and HPA axis activity is regulated by cholecystokinin from the lateral parabrachial nuclei.