An in vitro approach to unravel the modulation of the hypothalamic system by blood-circulating factors

The central nervous system (CNS) and the periphery are closely associated in the regulation of body homeostasis. In fact, in both physiological and pathological conditions, the CNS showed to be targeted by peripheral system molecules, which are able to generate adaptive responses under the tight control of the hypothalamus. In spite of having a well-recognized importance, the mechanisms underlying this communication are still unclear. Two major routes have been proposed to explain the transmission of information from the periphery to the CNS: a sensory pathway, through the peripheral nerves and a humoral pathway, through the bloodstream. In the present work, in vitro blood-brain barrier cultures and hypothalamic organotypic cultures were characterized with the main goal to enable the establishment of a platform to investigate the communication between the periphery and the CNS through the humoral pathway.