The functional role of cerebral ATP levels in body weight regulation

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is ubiquitously used for intracellular chemical energy transfer processes in the entire organism. Within the brain, however, ATP takes on a special functional role, which exceeds by far its peripheral mission as local cellular energy supplier. Neuronal ATP levels exert a dominating influence on downstream metabolic systems regulated by corresponding functional brain areas and therefore control decisive factors of the organismic energy homeostasis such as energy expenditure and food intake behavior. The first part of this chapter outlines i) how physiological brain energy supply for ATP synthesis occurs, ii) the function of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in this context, and iii) the homeostatic regulation of ATP levels upon neuronal excitation and inhibition. In the second part, we aim to iv) give an overview on the current knowledge how cerebral ATP levels and systemic metabolic processes interact and v) explain the specific impact of this interaction on body weight regulation in a physiologic and a pathologic state.