Topic: tanycytes

The third ventricle in the hypothalamus is lined by specialized glia-like cells called tanycytes. They are highly polarized cells, whose projections reach into different nuclei of the mediobasal hypothalamus and median eminence, responsible for energy homeostasis, food intake, and hormone release. Historically, tanycytes have been distinguished into alpha and beta subtypes according to their morphology and location along the ventricle. However, the classification according to localization alone does not provide information about the function of these cells. Therefore, we modified adeno-associa

The hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is one of several hormone regulatory systems connecting the hypothalamus to its peripheral target organs and plays a fundamental role in maintaining the normal serum levels of circulating thyroid hormones (THs) and thus the euthyroid state. At the interface of the HPT - the third ventricle - reside the tanycytes, specialised ependymoglial cells. Their anatomical location allows tanycytes to act as gatekeepers of the HPT and regulate both the output of thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) and the entry of peripheral THs to the brain. Recently, it was sho

Obesity and metabolic diseases are a top priority challenge for health systems. Monitoring changes in the body’s energy levels is a task of the hypothalamus which integrates the actions of peripheral hormones and nutrients with neural information. Among the cells involved, tanycytes play a key role. They are glial cells that line the third ventricle and mediate information about changes in the circulation to various hypothalamic nuclei. They regulate important neuroendocrine functions such as food intake and energy balance. Although tanycytes are known to integrate external and internal signal