Erschienen in:
01.09.2014 | Hypertension and the Brain (S Stocker, Section Editor)
Central Nervous System Dysfunction in Obesity-Induced Hypertension
verfasst von:
Geoffrey A. Head, Kyungjoon Lim, Benjamin Barzel, Sandra L. Burke, Pamela J. Davern
Erschienen in:
Current Hypertension Reports
|
Ausgabe 9/2014
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Abstract
The activation of the sympathetic nervous system is a major mechanism underlying both human and experimental models of obesity-related hypertension. While insulin and the adipokine leptin have long been thought to contribute to obesity-related neurogenic mechanisms, the evidence is now very strong that they play a major role, shown particularly in animal studies using selective receptor antagonists. There is not just maintenance of leptin’s sympatho-excitatory actions as previously suggested but considerable amplification particularly in renal sympathetic nervous activity. Importantly, these changes are not dependent on short-term elevation or reduction in plasma leptin or insulin, but require some weeks to develop indicating a slow “neural adaptivity” within hypothalamic signalling. These effects can be carried across generations even when offspring are raised on a normal diet. A better understanding of the underlying mechanism should be a high research priority given the prevalence of obesity not just in the current population but also for future generations.