A small group of neurons shapes the amount of insulin to be released by the pancreas

Fluorescence microscopy image of the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus where POMC neurons can be seen in green. Iage: Alicia G. Gómez Valadés
Fluorescence microscopy image of the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus where POMC neurons can be seen in green. Iage: Alicia G. Gómez Valadés
Research
(07/06/2017)

A research study co-led by the researchers Marc Claret, from IDIBAPS, and Antonio Zorzano, professor from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine of the UB and IRB Barcelona, reveals the link between POMC neurons in the hypothalamus and the pancreas insulin release. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, describes new molecular mechanisms which are involved in this connection. POMC neurons detect and integrate signals that inform about the organism energy state and activate the proper physiological responses. These neurons are sensitive to alterations in nutrients such as glucose, fatty acids or amino acids. Understanding its role in the insulin production helps to understand diabetes in more detail.

More information

 

Reference:

S. Ramírez, A. G. Gómez-Valadés, M. Schneeberger, L. Varela, R. Haddad-Tóvolli, J. Altirriba, E. Noguera, A. Drougard, Á. Flores-Martínez, M. Imbernón, I. Chivite, M. Pozo, A. Vidal-Itriago, A. Garcia, S. Cervantes, R. Gasa, R. Nogueiras, P. Gama-Pérez, P. M. Garcia-Roves, D. A. Cano, C. Knauf, J. M. Servitja, T. L. Horvath, R. Gomis, A. Zorzano and M. Claret. «Mitochondrial dynamics mediated by Mitofusin 1 is required for POMC neuron glucose-sensing and insulin release control». Cell Metabolism, 2017. Doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.05.010

 

Fluorescence microscopy image of the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus where POMC neurons can be seen in green. Iage: Alicia G. Gómez Valadés
Fluorescence microscopy image of the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus where POMC neurons can be seen in green. Iage: Alicia G. Gómez Valadés
Research
07/06/2017

A research study co-led by the researchers Marc Claret, from IDIBAPS, and Antonio Zorzano, professor from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine of the UB and IRB Barcelona, reveals the link between POMC neurons in the hypothalamus and the pancreas insulin release. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, describes new molecular mechanisms which are involved in this connection. POMC neurons detect and integrate signals that inform about the organism energy state and activate the proper physiological responses. These neurons are sensitive to alterations in nutrients such as glucose, fatty acids or amino acids. Understanding its role in the insulin production helps to understand diabetes in more detail.

More information

 

Reference:

S. Ramírez, A. G. Gómez-Valadés, M. Schneeberger, L. Varela, R. Haddad-Tóvolli, J. Altirriba, E. Noguera, A. Drougard, Á. Flores-Martínez, M. Imbernón, I. Chivite, M. Pozo, A. Vidal-Itriago, A. Garcia, S. Cervantes, R. Gasa, R. Nogueiras, P. Gama-Pérez, P. M. Garcia-Roves, D. A. Cano, C. Knauf, J. M. Servitja, T. L. Horvath, R. Gomis, A. Zorzano and M. Claret. «Mitochondrial dynamics mediated by Mitofusin 1 is required for POMC neuron glucose-sensing and insulin release control». Cell Metabolism, 2017. Doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.05.010