The major goal of the Laboratory is to elucidate the anatomy and physiology of the neuronal networks involved in the central regulation of the energy homeostasis in rodents and humans. Special attention is payed to research focusing on the integration of the hypophysiotropic thyrotropin-releasing hormone and corticotrophin releasing hormone synthesizing neurons into neuronal networks regulating energy homeostasis. In addition, the Laboratory studies the physiology of the neuronal groups mediating the anorexigenic effects of the melanocortin system.

Using pharmacological, anatomical, electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques, the Laboratory studies (1) the mechanisms of the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and adrenal (HPA); (2) the neuronal pathways mediating the anorexigenic effects of the melanocortin neurons during refeeding; and (3) the role of the tanycytes in the development of non-thyroidal illness syndrome. (1) Research focusing on the central regulation of the HPT and HPA axes investigate the relationship of the hypophysiotropic TRH and CRH neurons and the neuronal groups that synthesize feeding-related peptides, neurotransmitters and type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) in both the rat and human. Furthermore, they examine the role of these neuronal systems of the basal hypothalamus in the regulation of the HPT and HPA axes by fasting and peripheral feeding-related hormones like leptin and insulin. (2) Research focusing on the neuronal pathways and transmitters involved in the development of satiety during refeeding described that activation of the melanocortin signaling during refeeding is critical for the determination of the size of first meal and termination of food intake. They have also observed that the melanocortin signaling is involved in the mediation of the stimulatory effect of refeeding on neurons of the ventral parvocellular subdivision of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVNv) and the dorsomedial nucleus (DMN), known to play critical role in the regulation of food intake. They currently examine the integration of refeeding-activated, melanocortin sensitive neurons of the PVNv with the energy homeostasis-related neuronal networks and study the co-transmitters of these cells that are involved in the mediation of the anorexigenic effects of melanocortins. (3) In studies examining the pathomechanism of the central hypothyroidism induced by infection, they primarily focus on the role of tanycytes, a special gial cell type, lining the wall of the III. ventricle. They have described that the type II deiodinase (D2) synthesis of tanycytes is critical for the development of the infection induced central hypothyroidism. Currently, they examine the mediators of the infection induced up-regulation of D2 activity in these cells and explore the role of these special glial cells in the regulation of the HPT axis and energy homeostasis.