Abstract
Energy homeostasis is controlled by a complex neuroendocrine system consisting of peripheral and central signals, particularly leptin and brain-gut peptides. Animal experiments have demonstrated that brain-gut peptides are important not only in the regulation of feeding and metabolism, but also in other neuroendocrine and behavioural functions. Knowledge about gut-brain peptides is increasingly used in the study of the pathophysiology of behavioural disorders. Genetic studies including polymorphisms in genes encoding peptide or peptide receptors, as well as administration studies with peptide agonist/antagonist together with brain imaging have opened a new avenue for the study of peptide signaling in human behavior and behavioural disorders. This review briefly describes brain-gut peptide family and its role in feeding and other human behaviors, with a focus on the factors influencing peptide signaling such as peptide auto-antibodies, synaptic rearrangement, food-derived peptides, and environmental factors involved.
