Figure 9.

Connections of EWcp with the hunger–satiety circuit. EWcp receives a substantial projection from Arc and has reciprocal connections with PVN and LH-PeF. EWcp neurons express receptors for leptin (satiety signal) and ghrelin (hunger signal), and for the main neurotransmitters involved in this pathway (NPY, Orx, and probably MCH), suggesting that it could modulate energy expenditure by virtue of interacting with key elements of the hunger–satiety circuit. For the sake of clarity, hunger and satiety pathways are depicted unilaterally, as well as EWcp afferent and efferent projections, although all these pathways are bilateral. For terms, see the list of abbreviations.