# Ventromedial Hypothalamic Regulation of Metabolic Changes Induced by Exercise

> **NIH NIH P01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $485,570

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Exercise training markedly improves multiple metabolic parameters, including improved insulin sensitivity and
body composition. Exercise also has beneficial effects on the central nervous system (CNS), which in turn,
regulates all peripheral tissues, including the liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, heart and adipose tissue.
Relatively little is known about the mechanisms underlying the changes in the CNS following exercise training
that contribute to the beneficial effects of exercise. Our overarching hypothesis is that exercise induces
several changes in hypothalamic neurons and neuroendocrine signals, which in turn regulate food
intake, body composition, exercise endurance, and insulin sensitivity in key peripheral tissues. We will
systematically explore how exercise training affects in vivo activity dynamics of SF1 neurons and their targets,
and determine how modulation of SF1 neurons influences insulin sensitivity and metabolic adaptations to
exercise. We will also test the hypothesis that exercise training induces changes in peripheral metabolic
responses that are dependent on the release of glutamate from SF1 neurons onto pro-opiomelanocortin
(POMC) neurons. These studies will rely on several unique mouse models that have been developed for these
studies, and cutting edge techniques including in vivo neuronal imaging and optogenetics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242071
- **Project number:** 5P01DK119130-03
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** JOEL K. ELMQUIST
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $485,570
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242071

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242071, Ventromedial Hypothalamic Regulation of Metabolic Changes Induced by Exercise (5P01DK119130-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242071. Licensed CC0.

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