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Review
. 2018 Sep:15:104-115.
doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.05.012. Epub 2018 May 23.

Central regulation of energy metabolism by estrogens

Yong Xu  1 , Miguel López  2
Affiliations
Review

Central regulation of energy metabolism by estrogens

Yong Xu et al. Mol Metab. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Estrogenic actions in the brain prevent obesity. Better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may facilitate development of new obesity therapies.

Scope of review: This review focuses on the critical brain regions that mediate effects of estrogens on food intake and/or energy expenditure, the molecular signals that are involved, and the functional interactions between brain estrogens and other signals modulating metabolism. Body weight regulation by estrogens in male brains will also be discussed.

Major conclusions: 17β-estradiol acts in the brain to regulate energy homeostasis in both sexes. It can inhibit feeding and stimulate brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. A better understanding of the central actions of 17β-estradiol on energy balance would provide new insight for the development of therapies against obesity in both sexes.

Keywords: Brown adipose tissue; Energy balance; Estrogens; Food intake; Hypothalamus; Metabolism; Obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Actions of 17β-estradiol on BAT. 17β-estradiol modulates the brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). 17β-estradiol also regulates brown adipocytes directly by affecting adrenergic receptors (AR) and mitochondrial biogenesis. The overall effect of these actions is a catabolic response, linked to increased temperature, energy expenditure, and weight loss. 3V: third ventricle; β3-AR: beta 3 adrenergic receptor; DMH: dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus; FFA: free fatty acid; IO: inferior olive; LHA: lateral hypothalamic area; NE: norepinephrine; PVH: paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; RPa: raphe pallidus; UCP1: uncoupling protein 1; TG: triglyceride.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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