National Institutes of Natural Sciences, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Department of Homeostatic Regulation

Research Subjects

　The animal body has an integrated-regulatory system for "homeostasis" to maintain a nomal, constant-internal state, by responding to changes in both the external and internal environments. Within the central nervous system, the hypothalamus is a critical center that regulates these homeostasis activities.
We are extensively investigating the role of hypothalamus in body energy balance in mammals. These studies are now important for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes mellitus.

The main subjects of our current research are as follow;

• Molecular mechanism of the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and glucose and lipid metabolism.
• Signaling pathway for metabolic action of leptin and adipokines.
• Physiological and pathophysiological roles of AMPK in whole body metabolism.
• Development of novel analytical method for glucose and lipid metabolism