Review Articles in 2018

The brain regulates adipose tissue metabolism through sympathetic efferent pathways; in turn, adipose tissues relay energy-status information to the brain. This Review gives an overview of interactions between the brain and adipose tissues, with a particular focus on leptin as a regulator of these communications.

The prevalence of adolescent alcohol use in some countries is high and is associated with various changes in brain function and behaviour. In this Review, Linda Spear examines the contributors to and consequences of alcohol use during adolescence, covering findings in humans and rodent models of this developmental period.

The changes in spinal cord excitability proposed to drive neuropathic pain have been linked to alterations in microglial function. Inoue and Tsuda describe our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved and consider implications for therapeutic approaches to chronic pain.

Mitochondria may be actively recruited to presynapses to supply energy, buffer calcium and, potentially, fulfil other functions. In this Review, Devine and Kittler examine the importance of this presynaptic population of mitochondria in the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis and how dysfunctional presynaptic mitochondria might contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.

Eating patterns in modern societies often preclude the metabolic switch from utilization of glucose to ketones as a cellular energy source. In this Review, Mattson and colleagues discuss how intermittent metabolic switching impacts brain function and vulnerability to injury and disease.

Although leptin administration decreases food intake and body weight in lean mice, it has no effect in obese mice. In this Review, Pan and Myers discuss how leptin action becomes dysfunctional in obesity and suggest that elevated leptin levels promote processes that limit leptin action.