The hypothalamus synthesizes molecules involved in the regulation of feeding behaviour. Nesfatin- 1 is a recently discovered substance expressed in both the brain and peripheral tissues and exerts a strong anorectic action. Nesfatin-1-immunoreactive cell bodies are distributed in arcuate (ARC), paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei, where the peptide has been found to be co-expressed with pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), oxytocin (OX) and vasopressin (VP). More detailed studies have shown a wide distribution of nesfatin-1-positive neurons in several brain areas, such as the forebrain, hindbrain, brainstem and spinal cord. Moreover, nesfatin-1 has been also expressed in peripheral tissues, colocalizing with ghrelin in the gastric mucosa and insulin in β-cells of the endocrine pancreas and adipose tissue. Functional studies have revealed that exogenous nesfatin-1 administered into the brain ventricles, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally, was able to decrease both food intake in the dark phase as well as body weight gain in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, recent findings suggest the involvement of nesfatin-1 in the control of insulin secretion as well as immune and stress-related responses. However, since there is still a deficiency of data concerning the nesfatin-1 receptor, the possible implementation of nesfatin-1 analogs during human metabolic disorders requires further study.
