Leptin and the central control of feeding behavior

The discovery of leptin by Friedman and coll. in 1995 was a major step forward in our comprehensive view of energy homeostasis. Since the original paper, a tremendous amount of work has been performed in laboratories all over the world. Many recent reviews have described this work in details. In the present review, we focus on the role of leptin on food intake. It is accepted by most authors working in this field that the control of food intake can be divided in two closely-related system: the homeostatic system and the hedonic system. Leptin has been shown to act on both systems.

► The highest expression of long form leptin receptor is found within nuclei of the hypothalamus.
► Leptin acts on specific neural circuits to enhance the response to satiety.
► Leptin acts on specific neural circuits to diminish perception of food reward.
► Alterations in brain leptin action occur in feeding disorders: hyperphagia, anorexia.