Steroidogenic Factor 1 Directs Programs Regulating Diet-induced Thermogenesis and Leptin Action in the Ventral Medial Hypothalamic Nucleus

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2011 Jun 4

PMID 21636788

Citations 99

Authors

Ki Woo Kim

Liping Zhao

Jose Donato Jr

Daisuke Kohno

Yong Xu

Carol F Elias

Charlotte Lee

Keith L Parker

Joel K Elmquist

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The transcription factor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) is exclusively expressed in the brain in the ventral medial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and is required for the development of this nucleus. However, the physiological importance of transcriptional programs regulated by SF-1 in the VMH is not well defined. To delineate the functional significance of SF-1 itself in the brain, we generated pre- and postnatal VMH-specific SF-1 KO mice. Both models of VMH-specific SF-1 KO were susceptible to high fat diet-induced obesity and displayed impaired thermogenesis after acute exposure to high fat diet. Furthermore, VMH-specific SF-1 KO mice showed significantly decreased LepR expression specifically in the VMH, leading to leptin resistance. Collectively, these results indicate that SF-1 directs transcriptional programs in the hypothalamus relevant to coordinated control of energy homeostasis, especially after excess caloric intake.

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