Involvement of circadian feeding rhythm regulation in the mechanism for estrogen-induced hypophagia

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24500975
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits, studies on eating habits
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University
• Principal Investigator: TAKAMATA AKIRA 奈良女子大学, 生活環境科学系, 教授 (00264755)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: エストロゲン / 摂食調節 / 概日リズム / 視交叉上核 / オレキシンAニューロン / セロトニン / 短期の摂食調節 / 光環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Estrogen attenuates food intake and enhances c-Fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus specifically during the light phase. In the present study, we found that light exposure during the light phase is required to elicit an anorectic effect of estrogen. We also found that estrogen attenuates food intake and orexin A neuron’s responses to reduced glucose availability, which was possibly mediated by serotonergic neurons. Thus, estrogen enhances serotonergic neurons response to light, and the serotonergic neurons attenuate orexin-A neuron’s activity, which is, at least in part, a mechanism for the estrogen-induced hypophagia.

Free Research Field

食生活学　食行動