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Leptin Regulates Synaptic Activity of Brown Adipose Tissue‐Related Pre‐Sympathetic Neurons in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Mice
Author(s) -
Jiang Yanyan,
Munzberg Heike,
Derbenev Andrei,
Zsombok Andrea
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.1057.1
Subject(s) - leptin , brown adipose tissue , endocrinology , medicine , thermogenesis , hypothalamus , excitatory postsynaptic potential , nucleus , biology , sympathetic nervous system , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , arcuate nucleus , adipose tissue , neuroscience , blood pressure , obesity
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis is critical for maintaining body temperature and thus energy expenditure and it is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system. Recent evidence demonstrated the involvement of leptin in the regulation of the sympathetic outflow to the BAT; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we identified BAT‐related neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) of mice (BAT‐PVN) by inoculating BAT with pseudorabies virus 152. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were performed to test the hypothesis that leptin regulates the synaptic activity of pre‐sympathetic BAT‐PVN neurons. The majority of BAT‐PVN neurons responded to leptin application. Leptin (300 nM) caused an increase of spontaneous excitatory post‐synaptic current (sEPSC) frequency in a subset (40%) of BAT‐PVN neurons, whereas sEPSC frequency was decreased in other subset of BAT‐PVN neurons (30%). This effect was observed without alteration of the amplitude. On the other hand, the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory post‐synaptic currents (sIPSC) was decreased in 50% of BAT‐PVN neurons, while a subset of BAT‐PVN neurons (20%) responded with an increase of sIPSC frequency following leptin application. Leptin did not change the resting membrane potential or input resistance of the recorded BAT‐PVN neurons. These data suggest that leptin contributes to the regulation of sympathetic outflow to the BAT via modulating the synaptic activity of PVN neurons. Supported: NIDDK R01‐DK092587 (HM) and R01‐DK099598 (AZs).