Transcriptional regulation of energy homeostasis and metabolism in the central nervous system [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Marianne Bettina Ernst

Transcriptional Regulation of Energy Homeostasis and Metabolism in the Central Nervous System Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität zu Köln vorgelegt von Marianne Bettina Ernst aus Bottrop Köln 2010 Berichterstatter: Prof. Dr. Jens C. Brüning Prof. Dr. Peter Kloppenburg Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 27.04.2010 “The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding” Leonardo da Vinci für meine Mutter Brigitte Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS FIGURE INDEX............................................................................................IV TABLE INDEX.............................. VI ABBREVIATIONS.......................................................................................VII 1 INTRODUCTION...................... 1 1.1 Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.......................................... 1 1.2 Central regulation of energy homeostasis .................................. 2 1.2.1 The hypothalamus............................................................... 2 1.2.2 The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus............................