Ghrelin Receptor Signaling In The Brain Links Hunger To Mood And Motivation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$721,909.00
Summary
Cells in the brain that respond to hunger may also promote obsessive compulsive behaviours often associated with mental illness, such as anorexia nervosa. This grant examines how the signals from the body inform the brain of hunger. Specially we examine if overactivity of hunger cells, in the absence of appropriate food intake can increase behaviours associated with mental illness.
Defining Reciprocal Neural Circuits That Regulate Appetite And Memory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,935.00
Summary
How we remember meals influences how much we eat at later time points. This kind of memory likely comes from both the traditional brain areas associated with memory formation, and from areas associated with regulating appetite. How these two brain regions work together to help animals remember what they ate, where they found it, and whether they liked it is not known. This project investigates how these memories are formed and how they are used by animals to make decisions about future meals.
Motivational drive and reward are survival processes that underpin the maintenance of homeostasis. In humans, dysregulation of these brain circuits manifests in disorders such as depression and addictions. Our projects is focused on a key subgroup of neurons in the hypothalamus that modulates reward and motivation. We aim to understand how potent reward experience (e.g. drugs) or stress modifies these circuits and to identify potential entry points for therapeutic interventions.
Hypothalamic Orexin Neurons And The Medullary Sympathoadrenal Centre: A Key Role In Glucose Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,957.00
Summary
Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar is a major side-effect of the treatment of diabetes. Exposure to hypoglycaemia results in changes in the brain (neuroplasticity) that reduce the awareness of hypoglycaemia, often with serious consequences. Hypoglycaemia triggers the production of several hormones including adrenaline which restore normal blood glucose. This process is incompletely understood. This research project will identify key components of the neurocircuitry that controls blood sugar.
DIET-INDUCED OBESITY ALTERS THE CENTRAL ACTIONS OF GHRELIN
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$38,599.00
Summary
Ghrelin is a hormone that primarily targets the brain to increase food intake and body weight. It has evolved to prevent starvation during periods of negative energy balance by promoting energy intake and storage. We have identified central ghrelin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) as a novel disturbed neuroendocrine system that restricts excessive food intake. Therefore, a novel approach to treat DIO is to exploit or enhance these intrinsic mechanisms that restrict the development of obe ....Ghrelin is a hormone that primarily targets the brain to increase food intake and body weight. It has evolved to prevent starvation during periods of negative energy balance by promoting energy intake and storage. We have identified central ghrelin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) as a novel disturbed neuroendocrine system that restricts excessive food intake. Therefore, a novel approach to treat DIO is to exploit or enhance these intrinsic mechanisms that restrict the development of obesity.Read moreRead less
The brain regulates body temperature by a series of mechanisms, including the control of how much blood flows to the skin to lose or retain heat. The project aims to locate the brain temperature receptors and brain pathways that do this, using an animal model, the rat. At present they are not known.
The Orexin System: A Link Between Addiction And Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$378,426.00
Summary
Relapse represents the most significant barrier to the successful treatment of addiction Interestingly, relapse rates are significantly higher amongst addicts with a concurrent mood disorder such as depression. This fellowship will use a number of cutting-edge techniques to explore the role of a hypothalamic peptide called 'orexin' in both relapse and depression and will thereby guide translational research aimed at developing pharmacotherapies designed to treat these disorders.
Brainstem And Hypothalamic Function And Anatomy In Migraine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,828.00
Summary
Migraine is a disabling condition characterized by mostly unilateral throbbing head pain and a range of associated neurological symptoms. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the initiation of migraine remains unknown. We aim to determine brain anatomy and activity patterns in migraineurs throughout the migraine cycle. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for migraine will aid in better treatment development.
Central Neural Mechanisms Underlying The Effect Of Endocannabinoids On Body Weight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,793.00
Summary
Obesity and its associated pathologies of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, stroke, predisposition to some cancers and infertility in women no longer needs to be justified as a major health issue in modern societies. In fact it is quickly becoming recognised as the major threat to world health. Recently, the anecdotal evidence for increased food intake, particularly the craving of high carbohydrate, high sugar foods, associated with the use of marijuana has been put into a therapeutic cont ....Obesity and its associated pathologies of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, stroke, predisposition to some cancers and infertility in women no longer needs to be justified as a major health issue in modern societies. In fact it is quickly becoming recognised as the major threat to world health. Recently, the anecdotal evidence for increased food intake, particularly the craving of high carbohydrate, high sugar foods, associated with the use of marijuana has been put into a therapeutic context. Specifically a cannabinoid receptor antagonist, rimonabant (currently undergoing trials as Accomplia) has become a central player in the race for an obesity therapy because of its effects in blocking the brain receptors that would normally respond to cannabinoid like compounds in the brain that tend to increase food intake. Despite the trials that are underway in Europe and the USA many of the central actions of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the brain, the so-called endocannabinoids are very poorly understood. This series of experiments utilizing the best technologies available will address basic questions relating to the brain pathways involved and even the extent to which weight loss associated with the administration of these drugs to rats and presumably humans is dependent on the reduction of food intake or the burning of energy in a process called thermogenesis. These are essential pieces of information if this type of compound is to be considered as a serious contender in the search for an obesity therapyRead moreRead less
Hormonal Regulation Of NPY Neurons In The Arcuate Nucleus Of The Hypothalamus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,677.00
Summary
Obesity is a serious medical concern affecting the social, medical and economic capabilities within Australia. This proposal examines the hormonal regulation of cells in the brain inducing appetite. By understanding how these hormones influence appetite-inducing cells, we hope to identify effective targets to treat food intake and body weight gain.