Brain-liver connections: Role of the preautonomic PVN neurons

Abstract

Diabetes mellitusand the coexisting conditions and complications, including hypo- and hyperglycemicevents, obesity, high cholesterol levels, and many more, are devastatingproblems. Undoubtedly, there is a huge demand for treatment and prevention ofthese conditions that justifies the search for new approaches and concepts for bettermanagement of whole body metabolism. Emerging evidence demonstrates that theautonomic nervous system is largely involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis;however, the underlying mechanisms are still under investigation. Within thehypothalamus, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is in a unique position tointegrate neural and hormonal signals to command both the autonomic andneuroendocrine outflow. This minireview will provide a brief overview on the roleof preautonomic PVN neurons and the importance of the PVN-liver pathway in theregulation of glucose homeostasis.