1. The weighty implications of the lateral hypothalamic area in energy balance
1.1 Homeostasis and body weight
1.2 What is energy balance and how does it relate to health?
1.3 Obesity is a disease of disrupted energy balance
1.4 The brain coordinates energy balance
1.5 Discovery of a role for the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in energy balance
1.6 Lateral hypothalamic syndrome suggests an essential role for the LHA in coordinating behavior
1.7 Physiologic and pharmacologic regulation of the LHA
1.8 Neuronal diversity in the LHA and implications for energy balance


2. Anatomy and connectivity of the LHA
2.1 Location of the LHA and implications for its function
2.2 Molecularly defined populations of neurons within the LHA
2.2.1 Overview of LHA subpopulations
2.2.2 Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)
2.2.3 Orexin/hypocrectin (OX)
2.2.4 Neurotensin (NTS)
2.2.5 Galanin (GAL)
2.2.6 GABA
2.2.7 Glutamate
2.2.8 Receptor expressing populations (LepRb, MC4R)
2.2.9 Other populations of LHA neurons
2.3 Afferents to the LHA
2.3.1 Hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC)
2.3.2 Hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH)
2.3.3 Parabrachial nucleus (PB)
2.3.4 The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)
2.3.5 Nucleus accumbens (NA)
2.3.6 Regions involved in learning and memory (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and septum)
2.3.7 Lamina terminalis (LT)
2.4 Projections from the LHA
2.4.1 The ventral tegmental area (VTA)
2.4.2 The nucleus accumbens (NA)
2.4.3 Lateral habenula (LHb)
2.4.4 Regions involved in learning and memory (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus)
2.4.5 Lamina terminalis (LT)
2.4.6 Preoptic area (POA)
2.4.7 Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH)
2.4.8 Local projections within the LHA
2.5 Peripheral regulators of LHA neurons
2.5.1 Leptin
2.5.2 Ghrelin
2.5.3 Glucose
2.5.4 Dehydration


3. Roles of LHA neurons in regulating feeding
3.1 Overview of the LHA in control of feeding
3.2 Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in control of feeding
3.3 Orexin (OX) neurons in control of feeding
3.4 Neurotensin (Nts) neurons in control of feeding
3.5 Galanin (Gal) neurons in control of feeding
3.6 Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in control of feeding
3.7 GABA neurons in control of feeding
3.8 Glutamate neurons in control of feeding


4. Role of the LHA in drinking behavior
4.1 Overview of the LHA in control of drinking
4.2 Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in control of drinking
4.3 Orexin (OX) neurons in control of drinking
4.4 Neurotensin (Nts) neurons in control of drinking
4.5 CRH neurons in control of drinking
4.6 GABA and glutamate neurons in control of drinking


5. Role of the LHA in arousal, physical activity, and energy expenditure
5.1 Overview of the LHA in control of basal and volitional energy expenditure
5.2 Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in control of energy expenditure
5.3 Orexin (OX) neurons in control of energy expenditure
5.4 Neurotensin (Nts) neurons in control of energy expenditure
5.5 Galanin (Gal) neurons in control of energy expenditure
5.6 GABA and glutamate neurons in control of energy expenditure


6. Role of the LHA in human physiology
6.1 What have 60 years of LHA studies in animals taught us about human energy balance?
6.2 Role of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in human energy balance and disease
6.3 Role of orexin (OX) in human energy balance and disease
6.4 Role of neurotensin (Nts) in human energy balance and disease
6.5 Role of GABA and glutamate in human energy balance and disease


References
Author biographies.