Abstract
Glucocorticoids act primarily in a feed-forward fashion on brain to activate CNS pathways that implement wanting appropriate to physiological needs. Thus, depending on the available conditions, elevated glucocorticoids may augment the behavioural want to run, fight or feed. Although glucocorticoids stimulate intake of chow, fat and sucrose, insulin appears to sculpt calorie-associated desires toward foods high in fat, acting through hepatic branch afferents of the vagus nerve. Both conditions of reduced food allowance and chronic stress excite glucocorticoid-augmented central neural networks that may lead toward ultimate abdominal obesity.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adrenalectomy
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Animals
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Brain / metabolism*
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Brain / physiopathology
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Dietary Fats / metabolism
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Dietary Sucrose / metabolism
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Energy Intake*
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Feedback, Physiological
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Feeding Behavior*
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Glucocorticoids / metabolism*
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Humans
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Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / metabolism
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Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology
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Insulin / metabolism*
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Liver / innervation
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Liver / metabolism
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Obesity / metabolism*
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Obesity / physiopathology
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Pituitary-Adrenal System / metabolism
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Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology
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Vagus Nerve / physiopathology
Substances
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Dietary Fats
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Dietary Sucrose
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Glucocorticoids
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Insulin
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lard