Seasonal rhythms in energy balance are well documented across temperate and equatorial zones animals. The long-term regulated changes in seasonal physiology consists of a rheostatic system that is essential to successful time annual cycles in reproduction, hibernation, torpor, and migration. Most animals use the annual change in photoperiod as a reliable and robust environmental cue to entrain endogenous (i.e. circannual) rhythms. Research over the past few decades has predominantly examined the role of first order neuroendocrine peptides for the rheostatic changes in energy balance. These anorexigenic and orexigenic neuropeptides in the arcuate nucleus include neuropeptide y (Npy), agouti-related peptide (Agrp), cocaine and amphetamine related transcript (Cart) and pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc). Recent studies also indicate that VGF nerve growth factor inducible (Vgf) in the arcuate nucleus is involved in the seasonal regulation of energy balance. In situ hybridization, qPCR and RNA-sequencing studies have identified that Pomc expression across fish, avian and mammalian species, is a neuroendocrine marker that reflects seasonal energetic states. Here we highlight that long-term changes in arcuate Pomc and Vgf expression is conserved across species and may provide rheostatic regulation of seasonal energy balance.

在温带和赤道带动物身上，能量平衡的季节性节律得到了充分的证明。季节性生理的长期调节变化包括变阻系统，该系统对于繁殖，冬眠、,和迁徙的成功时间年度周期至关重要。大多数动物都使用光周期的年度变化作为可靠和强大的环境线索，以带动内源性（即周期性）节律。过去几十年的研究主要检查了一级神经内分泌肽对于能量平衡中变阻性变化的作用。弓形核中的这些厌食和食源性神经肽包括神经肽y（Npy），刺古龙相关肽（Agrp），可卡因和苯丙胺相关转录本（Cart）和促鸦胆黑素皮质激素（Pomc）。在原位杂交中，qPCR和RNA测序研究已确定，鱼，禽和哺乳动物物种中Pomc的表达是反映季节性能量状态的神经内分泌标记。在这里，我们着重指出，弓形Pomc和Vgf表达的长期变化在整个物种中均得到保留，并且可能提供季节性能量平衡的变阻性调节。