Fig. 1: Central and peripheral circuits involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis (designed using Biorender).
From: Central and peripheral neural circuits regulating glucose homeostasis
A Schema of peripheral neural circuits innervating metabolic organs. Autonomic efferent circuits (sympathetic (blue) and parasympathetic (magenta)) innervate organs such as liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue to regulate their function. Peripheral sensory circuits (green) and peripheral hormones, including leptin from adipose tissue and insulin from the pancreas, as well as nutrients (not shown) signal organ function and nutritional status to the brain. B Schema of key brainstem, hypothalamic and limbic regions regulating metabolism. Peripheral hormonal signals act primarily on the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus, which integrates metabolic cues. Arc neurons project to downstream nuclei such as the paraventricular (PVH) and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamic nuclei. Brainstem regions, including the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVM), processes nutrient, hormonal and vagal afferent inputs. The hippocampus and central amygdala, through their roles in stress and behavioral responses, also modulate glucose control. Together these regions coordinate autonomic and neuroendocrine responses that regulate hepatic glucose release/storage, pancreatic endocrine function, and adipose tissue metabolism. Black arrows represent hormonal signaling, green denotes vagal afferent pathways, magenta indicates vagal efferent pathways, and blue indicates sympathetic efferent pathways.
