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Review
. 2016 Aug;59(8):1609-15.
doi: 10.1007/s00125-016-3996-2. Epub 2016 May 20.

Cerebral cortex: a target and source of insulin?

Éva A Csajbók  1 , Gábor Tamás  2
Affiliations
Review

Cerebral cortex: a target and source of insulin?

Éva A Csajbók et al. Diabetologia. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Recent results suggest that insulin is synthesised by a subpopulation of neurons in the cerebral cortex and neural progenitor cells of the hippocampus. Supplementing the slow supply of insulin to the brain by pancreatic beta cells, the insulin locally released by neurons provides a rapid means of regulating local microcircuits, effectively modulating synaptic transmission and on-demand energy homeostasis of neural networks. Modulation of insulin production by brain neurons via glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists might be useful in counteracting diabetes, obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. Replacement of lost pancreatic beta cells by autologous transplantation of insulin-producing neural progenitor cells could be a viable therapy for diabetes.

Keywords: Animal; Basic science; Human; Insulin action; Insulin synthesis; Rat; Review.

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