Question

Genetic: What is the function of neuropeptide Y? What is the function of leptin? What is the function of ghrelin? What is the difference between brown and white adipose tissue?

Answer 1

1.Neuropeptide Y is a protein coding gene.

It acts as a neurotransmitter during cellular communication.

It influences many physiologyical processes such as cortical excitability, stress response, food intake, cardiovascular function ,etc.

It decreases latency to eat and increases motivation to eat.

2. Leptin is a cell- signalling hormone.

The main function of leptin hormone is the regulation of appetite, food intake, body weight.

Leptin is an appetite suppressor.

Absence of leptin in the body can lead to weight gain due to uncontrolled feeding.

3. Ghrelin is called as hunger hormone.

This hormone increases appetite and plays a role in body weight.

It promotes fat storage.

It is also important for a process called neurotrophy.

4. White Adipose Tissue or white fat stores excess calories . While Brown Adipose Tissue or brown fat produces heat by burning calories.

When we intake too many calories the body would convert them into an energy reserve in the form of white fat.

Brown fat has more capillaries than white fat due to its higher oxygen consumption.