TY - JOUR
T1 - Neural circuits of long-term thermoregulatory adaptations to cold temperatures and metabolic demands
AU - Mota, Clarissa M.D.
AU - Madden, Christopher J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Limited 2024.
PY - 2024/3
Y1 - 2024/3
N2 - The mammalian brain controls heat generation and heat loss mechanisms that regulate body temperature and energy metabolism. Thermoeffectors include brown adipose tissue, cutaneous blood flow and skeletal muscle, and metabolic energy sources include white adipose tissue. Neural and metabolic pathways modulating the activity and functional plasticity of these mechanisms contribute not only to the optimization of function during acute challenges, such as ambient temperature changes, infection and stress, but also to longitudinal adaptations to environmental and internal changes. Exposure of humans to repeated and seasonal cold ambient conditions leads to adaptations in thermoeffectors such as habituation of cutaneous vasoconstriction and shivering. In animals that undergo hibernation and torpor, neurally regulated metabolic and thermoregulatory adaptations enable survival during periods of significant reduction in metabolic rate. In addition, changes in diet can activate accessory neural pathways that alter thermoeffector activity. This knowledge may be harnessed for therapeutic purposes, including treatments for obesity and improved means of therapeutic hypothermia.
AB - The mammalian brain controls heat generation and heat loss mechanisms that regulate body temperature and energy metabolism. Thermoeffectors include brown adipose tissue, cutaneous blood flow and skeletal muscle, and metabolic energy sources include white adipose tissue. Neural and metabolic pathways modulating the activity and functional plasticity of these mechanisms contribute not only to the optimization of function during acute challenges, such as ambient temperature changes, infection and stress, but also to longitudinal adaptations to environmental and internal changes. Exposure of humans to repeated and seasonal cold ambient conditions leads to adaptations in thermoeffectors such as habituation of cutaneous vasoconstriction and shivering. In animals that undergo hibernation and torpor, neurally regulated metabolic and thermoregulatory adaptations enable survival during periods of significant reduction in metabolic rate. In addition, changes in diet can activate accessory neural pathways that alter thermoeffector activity. This knowledge may be harnessed for therapeutic purposes, including treatments for obesity and improved means of therapeutic hypothermia.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41583-023-00785-8
DO - 10.1038/s41583-023-00785-8
M3 - Review article
C2 - 38316956
AN - SCOPUS:85184230977
SN - 1471-003X
VL - 25
SP - 143
EP - 158
JO - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
JF - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
IS - 3
ER -