[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

with the DMH as an important pathway for thermoregulatory adaptations via the preautonomic
and neuroendocrine PVN. Furthermore, using pseudorabies virus (PRV) injections into brown
adipose tissue (BAT) we found that indeed DMH/LepRb neurons are involved in the regulation
of the sympathetic BAT input. In addition, PRV was detected within LepRb neurons of the
retrochiasmatic hypothalamus/ARC and mPOA, areas that contain neurons that sense the
circulation (e.g. leptin levels) and project to the DMH, suggesting that they may serve as sensory
inputs into the DMH to regulate sympathetic PVN outputs to the BAT. Therefore, DMH/LepRb
neurons may mediate important aspects of leptin action on the ANS and neuroendocrine
function. Grant support: AHA053298N and P/F DK020572-30 to HM; NARSAD Young
Investigator Award to IAK.
Disclosures: M. Faouzi, None; I. Kerman, None; G. Louis, None; R. Leshan, None; G.M.
Leinninger, None; J.C. Jones, None; S.J. Watson, None; C.J. Rhodes, None; H. Munzberg ,
None.
Poster
284. Regulation of Food Intake and Body Weight: Integration of Peripheral Signals:
Systems
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 284.15/QQ10
Topic: E.07.b. Integration of peripheral signals: Systems
Support: NIH Grant NS52142
NIH Grant HD47643
NIH Grant DK56373
Title: TNF activates astrocytes and catecholaminergic neurons in the solitary nucleus
Authors: R. C. ROGERS, *G. E. HERMANN;
Lab. Autonomic Neurosci, Pennington Biomed. Res. Ctr., Baton Rouge, LA
Abstract: Tumor necrosis factor [TNF] produces a profound cachexia and anorexia associated
with gastrointestinal stasis. Our work has suggested that the principal site of action of TNF to
cause this change in gastric function is via vagal afferents within the nucleus of the solitary tract
[NST]. Excitation of these afferents presumably causes gastric stasis by activating downstream
NST neurons that, in turn, suppress gastric motility via action on neurons in the dorsal motor
nucleus of the vagus that project to the stomach. Results from our parallel studies on gastric