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Review
. 2010 Jan;9(1):41-50.
doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2009.07.004. Epub 2009 Jul 23.

Hypothalamic and dietary control of temperature-mediated longevity

Iustin Tabarean  1 , Brad Morrison, Maria Cecilia Marcondes, Tamas Bartfai, Bruno Conti
Affiliations
Review

Hypothalamic and dietary control of temperature-mediated longevity

Iustin Tabarean et al. Ageing Res Rev. 2010 Jan.

Abstract

Temperature is an important modulator of longevity and aging in both poikilotherms and homeotherm animals. In homeotherms, temperature homeostasis is regulated primarily in the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus. This region receives and integrates peripheral, central and environmental signals and maintains a nearly constant core body temperature (T(core)) by regulating the autonomic and hormonal control of heat production and heat dissipation. Temperature sensitive neurons found in the POA are considered key elements of the neuronal circuitry modulating these effects. Nutrient homeostasis is also a hypothalamically regulated modulator of aging as well as one of the signals that can influence T(core) in homeotherms. Investigating the mechanisms of the regulation of nutrient and temperature homeostasis in the hypothalamus is important to understanding how these two elements of energy homeostasis influence longevity and aging as well as how aging can affect hypothalamic homeostatic mechanisms.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hammel's model of neuronal temperature regulation (Hammel 1965).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Diagram of neural pathway controlling BAT thermogenesis (redrawn from (Nakamura et al. 2007)). GABAergic neurons in the POA tonically inhibit neurons in the DMH. DMH neurons activate BAT-controlling sympathetic premotor neurons in the rRPa. This results in stimulation of the BAT-controlling sympathetic output system. IML, intermediolateral cell column.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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