Energy and Homeostasis - Research Paper Example

Energy and Homeostasis Introduction: Intake of proper food and energy and the process of homeostasis prove to be a highly essential part of every life. The present study is to have a review on an article by Woods et al on the signals of food intake and energy homeostasis. Signals that Regulate Food Intake and Energy Homeostasis: Summary of Article: While considering the studies on food intake and regulation, there are several models that need to be taken concern of such as the depletion-repletion models that monitor the need and availability of energy, and the time of the need of a proper meal.

This might depend on the level of glucose in the body, as well as the functions of the brain and the liver and other organs. The lipostatic model is concerned with the fat molecules in the body that determine the need of food and energy, and its regulation. The intake and termination of meal may be dependent on several internal and external factors that are studied as the signals. The number and quantity of meals generally depend and vary with different species of animals. It is not fixed and different species have different mechanisms that trigger the need for food intake and how they maintain their balance of energy (Woods et al, 1998, pp.1378-1382).

The neurohumoral system is mostly responsible for the process of energy homeostasis in the body. Hormones play a major role in this regard. The central nervous system (CNS) of the body has direct effects on the balance of energy in response to the fat molecules within a body. Leptin and insulin are two major signals that function in association with the CNS. The catabolic response to leptin administration in the body determines the gain or loss in weight as well, along with the rates of metabolism.

Considering the central effector pathways, the study reveals that the regulation of energy homeostasis is largely dependent on the hypothalamus containing neuroal systems. Depending on the level of fat, pathways like ARC-PVN NPY might be activated. Also, hormones such as glucocorticoid might be secreted in the process as an effect of NPY. Considering the central catabolic systems, the expression of proopiomelanocortin genes is restricted for ARC neurons that lead to parts necessary for energy homeostasis.

Thus melanocortins have a significant role to play in the process of regulation (Woods et al, 1998, pp.1378-1382).The corticotrophin releasing hormone is also another highly essential component of the process of energy homeostasis in the body. Food intake may be reduced with the implication of this hormone thus leading to loss of body weight. Also, these hormones may have a direct linkage with stress and illnesses. The effectiveness of meal produced satiety peptides are influenced by leptin and insulin, depending on which the fat molecules might influence the food intake behavior as well.

Thus the entire process reflects upon the regulation of weigh of a body where multiple adiposity signals and pathways connected from the CNS have an active role to play. The combined effect of the hormones and the signals and pathways increase the response capability of the homeostasis system in the body addressing to the weight regulation process of the body. Thus the regulation of food intake and the process of energy homeostasis may be considered to be an effective measure of maintaining the weight of the body (Woods et al, 1998, pp.1378-1382).

Conclusion:The importance and the mechanism of the energy homeostasis process could be obtained significantly from the above studied article. Reference1) Woods, S.C. (1998). Signals That Regulate Food Intake and Energy Homeostasis, Science, ProQuest Education Journals, 280, pp.1378-1383