Regulation of Food Intake: Central Mechanisms

Food intake is regulated by complex hypothalamic neuronal systems originally identified as hunger and satiety centers. The search for the underlying mechanisms led to the discovery of several central orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides. The present chapter summarizes the current knowledge about the role of classical hypothalamic neuropeptides such NPY/AgRP, POMC/CART, melanocortin, and orexin system, as well as several new central signals such as AMPK, ncRNA, and autophagy involved in the regulation of appetite and food intake.