ESPE Abstracts

Background: The survival of an organism relies on its ability to promptly, effectively and reproducibly communicate with brain networks that control food intake and energy homeostasis. To achieve this, circulating factors of hunger and satiety reflecting nutrient availability must cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to reach effectors neurons.Objective and hypotheses: Here I will discuss the key role played in this process by a peculiar type of glial cel...

Minipuberty, a transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis during early infancy, plays a critical role beyond reproductive development. Recent evidence suggests that minipuberty, in addition to facilitating the process by which the capacity for sexual reproduction is achieved and maintained, may also influence neurodevelopmental programming and the maintenance of sensory (e.g., olfaction and hearing) and cognitive performance throughout life. During m...