Author(s)

Darren Eric Zhu ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Upper Dublin High School, Pa, 19034, USA

Corresponding Author

Darren Eric Zhu

ABSTRACT

Regulated gene expression in neurons within the gut-brain axis plays an important role in energy balance.I sought to explore the expression of neuronatin in relation to brain circuits that are involved in energy metabolism.I screened through Allen Brain connectivity and in situ hybridization databases,and observed the projections of GABAergic,glycinergic,and glutamatergic neurons and found that only glycinergic neurons project out of the nucleus of the solitary tract(NTS)into the zona incerta(ZI).My analyses showed that both glycinergic NTS neurons and their target neurons within the ZI are both neuronatin expressing cells.Taken together,my findings reveal that regulated expression of neuronatin in NTS and ZI neurons is necessary for the proper development of feeding behavior and metabolic processes.A better understanding of neuronatin expression and neurons expressing neuronatin may pave the way for new and improved therapeutic targets to help delay the onset and progression of metabolic associated conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

KEYWORDS

Energy, Metabolism, Neuronatin, Nts, Zi, Diabetes, Obesity, Gene, Expression, Therapeutic

CITE THIS PAPER

Darren Eric Zhu, Neuronatin Gene Expression in Brain Stem Thalamic Circuit Involving Energy Homeostasis. MEDS Chinese Medicine (2021) 3: 98-105. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medcm.2021.030221

REFERENCES

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[14] Function of glycinergic neurons:Zafra,Francisco,et al(2016).”Glycinergic Transmission:Glycine Transporter GlyT2 in Neuronal Pathologies.”Portland Press,Portland Press
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