Melanocortin 3 receptor-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus promote glucose disposal

AK Sutton, PB Goforth, IE Gonzalez… - Proceedings of the …, 2021 - National Acad Sciences
AK Sutton, PB Goforth, IE Gonzalez, J Dell'Orco, H Pei, MG Myers Jr, DP Olson
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021National Acad Sciences
The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is a critical neural node that senses blood glucose
and promotes glucose utilization or mobilization during hypoglycemia. The VMH neurons
that control these distinct physiologic processes are largely unknown. Here, we show that
melanocortin 3 receptor (Mc3R)-expressing VMH neurons (VMHMC3R) sense glucose
changes both directly and indirectly via altered excitatory input. We identify presynaptic
nodes that potentially regulate VMHMC3R neuronal activity, including inputs from …
The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is a critical neural node that senses blood glucose and promotes glucose utilization or mobilization during hypoglycemia. The VMH neurons that control these distinct physiologic processes are largely unknown. Here, we show that melanocortin 3 receptor (Mc3R)-expressing VMH neurons (VMHMC3R) sense glucose changes both directly and indirectly via altered excitatory input. We identify presynaptic nodes that potentially regulate VMHMC3R neuronal activity, including inputs from proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-producing neurons in the arcuate nucleus. We find that VMHMC3R neuron activation blunts, and their silencing enhances glucose excursion following a glucose load. Overall, these findings demonstrate that VMHMC3R neurons are a glucose-responsive hypothalamic subpopulation that promotes glucose disposal upon activation; this highlights a potential site for targeting dysregulated glycemia.
National Acad Sciences