Open AccessMusings on the wanderer: What’s new in our understanding of vago-vagal reflexes? VI. Central vagal circuits that control glucose metabolism
Author(s) -
M Soledad Pitra,
Bret N. Smith
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of physiology. gastrointestinal and liver physiology/american journal of physiology: gastrointestinal and liver physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.644
H-Index - 169
eISSN - 1522-1547
pISSN - 0193-1857
DOI - 10.1152/ajpgi.00368.2020
Subject(s) - neuroscience , reflex , glucose homeostasis , glycemic , crosstalk , carbohydrate metabolism , biological neural network , vagus nerve , homeostasis , vagal tone , medicine , blood sugar , neuronal circuits , diabetes mellitus , biology , endocrinology , autonomic nervous system , insulin resistance , blood pressure , stimulation , heart rate , physics , optics
Neurons in the brain stem dorsal vagal complex (DVC) take part in a continuous bidirectional crosstalk, in which they receive and respond to a vast array of signaling molecules, including glucose. Importantly, chronic dysregulation of blood glucose concentration, a hallmark of high prevalence pathologies, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome, can induce neuroplasticity in DVC neural networks, which is hypothesized to either contribute to or compensate for the glycemic or insulinemic dysregulation observed in these conditions. Here, we revisit the topic of vagal reflexes to review recent research on the importance of DVC function in regulating systemic glucose homeostasis and the neuroplastic changes in this brain region that are associated with systemic glucose alterations. We also discuss the critical connection between these nuclei and the gut and the role of central vagal circuits in the favorable outcomes associated with bariatric surgical procedures for metabolic disorders.