The Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus: Watchdog of Whole-Body Glucose Homeostasis

Authors

Longlong Tu
Makoto Fukuda
Qingchun Tong
Yong Xu

Publication Date

5-26-2022

Journal

Cell & Bioscience

DOI

10.1186/s13578-022-00799-2

PMID

35619170

PMCID

PMC9134642

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-26-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

VMH, Glucose sensing, Whole-body glucose homeostasis, Counterregulatory response, Hypoglycemia, Diabetes, Sex difference

Abstract

The brain, particularly the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), has been long known for its involvement in glucose sensing and whole-body glucose homeostasis. However, it is still not fully understood how the brain detects and responds to the changes in the circulating glucose levels, as well as brain-body coordinated control of glucose homeostasis. In this review, we address the growing evidence implicating the brain in glucose homeostasis, especially in the contexts of hypoglycemia and diabetes. In addition to neurons, we emphasize the potential roles played by non-neuronal cells, as well as extracellular matrix in the hypothalamus in whole-body glucose homeostasis. Further, we review the ionic mechanisms by which glucose-sensing neurons sense fluctuations of ambient glucose levels. We also introduce the significant implications of heterogeneous neurons in the VMH upon glucose sensing and whole-body glucose homeostasis, in which sex difference is also addressed. Meanwhile, research gaps have also been identified, which necessities further mechanistic studies in future.