Unraveling a Cellular Mystery

...The cilia on some neurons in the brain contain receptors for melanin-concentrating hormone and possibly leptin—two vital parts of the body’s feeding-response system. These hormones mediate the sensation of being full or hungry to control feeding behavior; MCH induces feeding, while leptin represses the urge to eat. Mice with damaged cilia “can’t control their eating,” says Yoder. “They don’t understand when they’re full.” This fits with the clinical evidence in humans; obesity is a common symptom of many syndromes related to ciliary dysfunction...