Cellular actions of nesfatin-1 on hypothalamic and medullary neurons.

The present review summarizes the current understanding of the neuronal activation patterns induced by nesfatin-1 in both the hypothalamus and the brainstem, as well as the physiological outcomes caused by the activation of these neuronal populations. Studies using cFos measurements, Ca(2+) imaging techniques, electrophysiological recordings, and microinjections have led to the identification of the paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, lateral and ventromedial hypothalamic areas, as well as medullary centers such as the nucleus of the solitary tract and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus as targets of central nesfatin-1 actions on food intake, cardiovascular function, stress responses, and glucose homeostasis.