Metabolic Hormones and Regulation of Synaptic Function: Implications for Health and CNS Disease

Dear Colleagues,

The peripheral actions of metabolic hormones, such as insulin, leptin, and ghrelin, are well established. However, increasing evidence indicates that the actions of these hormones is not restricted to peripheral tissues, as numerous studies have revealed that these hormones can readily access the CNS and modulate the functioning of synapses. The hippocampus is a brain region that is pivotally involved in learning and memory processes, such that activity-dependent changes in the strength of hippocampal excitatory synapses underlie formation of spatial and episodic learning and memory. However, the hippocampus is also an extremely vulnerable area of the brain, with a high susceptibility to seizure generation, and it is an early site for degeneration in age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Recent evidence indicates that the hippocampus, and specifically hippocampal excitatory synapses are markedly influenced by hormonal systems, with many metabolic hormones linked to pro-cognitive actions. However, on the flip side, age-related impairments in metabolic hormone function are associated with an increased risk of CNS disease, including neurodegenerative disease. In this Special Issue, the ability of metabolic hormones to regulate hippocampal synaptic function and the consequences for brain health and CNS-driven disease will be explored.

Dr. Jenni Harvey
Guest Editor

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