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IZN Scientific Events IZN Lecture: A hypothalamic circuit for anticipating future changes in energy balance

  • Mittwoch, 11. November 2026, 14:00 - 15:00 Uhr
  • SR25, BZH, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328
    • Dr. Elijah Lowenstein, Harvard Medical School / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
    • Host: SFB1158

IZN community members in Heidelberg are requested to attend in person.
IZN community members from Mannheim are welcomed to join via Zoom.

 

Abstract

AgRP neurons cause hunger, the drive to seek and consume food. Their activation by fasting is key for survival and is thought to be triggered by feedback when energy stores are low. However, we know that environmental cues can also regulate AgRP neurons, since cues that predict future food intake rapidly inhibit AgRP neurons. But is the converse true: can the prediction of future fasting rapidly activate AgRP neurons? Here we show that such rapid fasting activation of AgRP neurons does occur. This rapid activation is driven by excitatory input from paraventricular hypothalamic neurons expressing Sim2, which are bidirectionally sensitive to predictions of future energy state. In this way, cognitively-processed contextual information conveyed by PVH-Sim2 neurons strongly activates AgRP neurons. Lastly, chronic silencing of PVH-Sim2 neurons causes persistent hypophagia. This PVH-Sim2 to AgRP neuron circuit, by anticipating and preventing negative energy balance, provides an important new dimension of hunger regulation.

Alle Termine der Veranstaltung 'IZN Lectures and Concepts Talks'

Invited speakers—many from abroad—talk about their latest findings and IZN investigators provide an overview about concepts and perspectives of their research in this bi-weekly lecture series.

IZN Lectures: Everyone in the IZN community, including IZN doctoral students, is welcome to invite speakers from other universities and institutions to come to Heidelberg and share their research findings. Travel and accommodation expenses can be covered up to a maximum of 500€ by the IZN.

IZN Concepts Talks: All IZN investigators are invited to give concepts talks explaining the big picture behind the work going on in their labs and how it fits into our broader understanding of the function and dysfunction of the nervous system.

Contact the IZN coordinator to schedule your concepts talk or invited speaker: IZN.coordinator@uni-heidelberg.de.

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