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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Neurosci. 2016 Apr 7;17(5):282–292. doi: 10.1038/nrn.2016.24

Figure 3. Neural circuits mediating the effect of BDNF on energy expenditure.

Figure 3

BDNF neurons in the PVHmpd and PVHp have been shown to drive adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissues through a polysynaptic circuit that includes TrkB-expressing sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the IML of the spinal cord and sympathetic postganglionic neurons in the stellate ganglion. In addition, there is evidence to support that BDNF neurons in the PVHa and TrkB neurons in the VMH stimulate energy expenditure by promoting locomotor activity through undefined neural circuits (indicated by question mark in the green oval). Abbreviations: ARH, arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus; DMH, dorsomedial hypothalamus; DMV, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; IML, intermediolateral column of the spinal cord; NTS, nucleus of the solitary tract; PVH, paraventricular hypothalamus; PVHa: anterior part of the PVH; PVHmpd, dorsal medial parvicellular part of the PVH; PVHmpv, ventral medial parvicellular part of the PVH; PVHp, posterior part of the PVH; VMH, ventromedial hypothalamus.