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Glucocorticoids and insulin both modulate caloric intake through actions on the brain
Author(s) -
Dallman Mary F.,
Warne James P.,
Foster Michelle T.,
Pecoraro Norman C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.136051
Subject(s) - insulin , endocrinology , caloric theory , glucocorticoid , medicine , calorie , leptin , vagus nerve , obesity , caloric intake , food intake , starvation , neuroscience , psychology , stimulation
Glucocorticoids act primarily in a feed‐forward fashion on brain to activate CNS pathways that implement wanting appropriate to physiological needs. Thus, depending on the available conditions, elevated glucocorticoids may augment the behavioural want to run, fight or feed. Although glucocorticoids stimulate intake of chow, fat and sucrose, insulin appears to sculpt calorie‐associated desires toward foods high in fat, acting through hepatic branch afferents of the vagus nerve. Both conditions of reduced food allowance and chronic stress excite glucocorticoid‐augmented central neural networks that may lead toward ultimate abdominal obesity.