Obesity is associated with hypothalamic injury in rodents and humans

Rodent models of obesity induced by consuming high-fat diet (HFD) are characterized by inflammation both in peripheral tissues and in hypothalamic areas critical for energy homeostasis. Here we report that unlike inflammation in peripheral tissues, which develops as a consequence of obesity, hypothalamic inflammatory signaling was evident in both rats and mice within 1 to 3 days of HFD onset, prior to substantial weight gain. Furthermore, both reactive gliosis and markers suggestive of neuron injury were evident in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of rats and mice within the first week of HFD feeding. Although these responses temporarily subsided, suggesting that neuroprotective mechanisms may initially limit…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• OO
  Office of Research and Development
• UO
  University of Washington

  Award: DK035816
• NN
  Novo Nordisk
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: DK017047, DK083042, DK077975, DK076126, DK035816