Leptin's blood pressure effect needs specific brain cells
Control of Blood Pressure, Appetite, and Glucose by Leptin in Mice Lacking Leptin Receptors in Proopiomelanocortin Neurons
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Leptin lowered blood pressure in mice missing POMC leptin receptors
Previous research assumed leptin always raised BP via POMC neurons; this shows the opposite effect when those neurons are inactive.
Practical Takeaways
Understanding brain-specific leptin pathways could lead to targeted hypertension treatments.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Leptin lowered blood pressure in mice missing POMC leptin receptors
Previous research assumed leptin always raised BP via POMC neurons; this shows the opposite effect when those neurons are inactive.
Practical Takeaways
Understanding brain-specific leptin pathways could lead to targeted hypertension treatments.
Publication
Journal
Hypertension
Year
2011
Authors
Jussara M. do Carmo, A. D. da Silva, Z. Cai, Shuying Lin, J. Dubinion, J. Hall
Related Content
Claims (10)
Chronic elevation of insulin activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate, cardiac output, and peripheral vasoconstriction, thereby raising blood pressure.
When mice lack leptin receptors in certain brain cells, they become heavier, have higher blood sugar, more insulin, and more leptin hormone than normal mice.
When mice lack leptin receptors in certain brain cells, giving them leptin slightly lowers their blood pressure instead of raising it like in normal mice.
Leptin lowers blood sugar and insulin in normal mice, but not in mice missing leptin receptors in certain brain cells.
Leptin makes both normal mice and those missing leptin receptors in certain brain cells burn more oxygen, meaning this effect works through other brain pathways.