Leucine deprivation causes hypothalamic neuronal inhibition accompanied by systemic metabolic changes.

The lack of dietary essential amino acid leucine influences energy metabolism via hypothalamic leptin signaling pathway. However, these neural circuits and its relationship with pathogenesis of obesity still remain unclear. In this work we investigated the hypothalamic neural pathway, abdominal fat and liver fat by multi-parametric imaging in leucine deficient diet fed mice. MEMRI results indicated that leu deficiency triggers neuronal inhibition in certain hypothalamic regions suggesting POMC neuronal pathway involvement in enhanced energy expenditure through leptin signaling pathway. Combined with systemic metabolic changes this may facilitate in understanding of amino acid sensing and metabolic regulatory network of energy homeostasis.