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The NPY System and its Neural and Neuroendocrine Regulation of Bone

  • Skeletal Regulations (D Gaddy, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The past decade has seen a significant expansion of our understanding of the interaction between the neural system and bone. While innervation of bone was long appreciated, the discovery of central relays from the hypothalamus to the cells of bone has seen the identification of a number of efferent neural pathways to bone. The neuropeptide Y (NPY) system has proven to represent a major central pathway, regulating the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, through signaling of central and peripheral ligands, through specific receptors within the hypothalamus and the osteoblast. Moreover, this pathway is now recognized as acting to coordinate both skeletal and energy homeostasis. This review examines the mechanism and actions of the NPY pathway to regulate bone mass and bone cell activity.

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Conflicts of interest: E.C. Khor: none; P. Baldock: has received grant support from National Health and Medical Research Council (#427632).

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  1. Bone Regulation, Neuroscience Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Ee Cheng Khor & Paul Baldock

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Khor, E.C., Baldock, P. The NPY System and its Neural and Neuroendocrine Regulation of Bone. Curr Osteoporos Rep 10, 160–168 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-012-0102-7

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