A role for the cerebellum in motor-triggered alleviation of anxiety.

Physical exercise is known to reduce anxiety, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we explore a hypothalamo-cerebello-amygdalar circuit that may mediate motor-dependent alleviation of anxiety. This three-neuron loop, in which the cerebellar dentate nucleus takes center stage, bridges the motor system with the emotional system. Subjecting animals to a constant rotarod engages glutamatergic cerebellar dentate neurons that drive PKCδ+ amygdalar neurons to elicit an anxiolytic effect. Moreover, challenging animals on an accelerated rather than a constant rotarod engages hypothalamic neurons that provide a superimposed anxiolytic effect via an orexinergic projection to the dentate neurons that activate the amygdala. Our findings reveal a cerebello-limbic pathway that may contribute to motor-triggered alleviation of anxiety and that may be optimally exploited during challenging physical exercise.

Astragalus polysaccharide alleviates cognitive impairment and ß-amyloid accumulation in APP/PS1 mice via Nrf2 pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, and its etiology and pathogenesis are not fully understood. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has many pharmacological activities, but there are few reports about its role in AD. Using the common AD model APP/PS1 mice, it was found that the expression of Keap1 (a negative regulatory factor of Nrf2), the protein level of cytoplasmic Nrf2 and the content of MDA were increased significantly, while the mRNA level of Nrf2, the expression of Nrf2 in nucleus and the contents of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased significantly. APS treatment significantly increased the expression of Nrf2 in the nucleus but decreased its expression in the cytoplasm, and restored the expression levels of Keap1, SOD, GSH-Px and MDA. When APP/PS1 mice were treated with APS and injected with Nrf2 siRNA, the down-regulation of Nrf2 expression significantly blocked the regulation of APS on oxidative stress. Continuing to test the physiological function of AD mice showed that the spatial learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 mice were impaired, the apoptosis of brain cells and the content of ß-amyloid (Aß) were significantly increased. APS treatment significantly improved the cognitive ability of APP/PS1 mice, reduced apoptosis and the accumulation of Aß, but the above effects of APS were blocked by Nrf2 siRNA injection. Therefore, APS can activate Nrf2 pathway to improve the physiological function of AD mice, which may have important clinical application value.

Orexin prevents depressive-like behavior by promoting stress resilience.

Hypothalamic neuropeptide orexin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and accumulating clinical evidence indicates a potential link between orexin and depression. However, the exact role of orexin in depression, particularly the underlying neural substrates and mechanisms, remains unknown. In this study, we reveal a direct projection from the hypothalamic orexinergic neurons to the ventral pallidum (VP), a structure that receives an increasing attention for its critical position in rewarding processing, stress responses, and depression. We find that orexin directly excites GABAergic VP neurons and prevents depressive-like behaviors in rats. Two orexin receptors, OX1R and OX2R, and their downstream Na+-Ca2+ exchanger and L-type Ca2+ channel co-mediate the effect of orexin. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade or genetic knockdown of orexin receptors in VP increases depressive-like behaviors in forced swim test and sucrose preference test. Intriguingly, blockage of orexinergic inputs in VP has no impact on social proximity in social interaction test between novel partners, but remarkably strengthens social avoidance under an acute psychosocial stress triggered by social rank. Notably, a significantly increased orexin level in VP is accompanied by an increase in serum corticosterone in animals exposed to acute stresses, including forced swimming, food/water deprivation and social rank stress, rather than non-stress situations. These results suggest that endogenous orexinergic modulation on VP is especially critical for protecting against depressive reactions to stressful events. The findings define an indispensable role for the central orexinergic system in preventing depression by promoting stress resilience.

Bioinspired Polydopamine/Polyzwitterion Coatings for Underwater Anti-Oil and -Freezing Surfaces.

Zwitterionic polymers are continually suggested as promising alternatives to tune the surface/interface properties of materials in many fields because of their unique molecular structures. Tremendous efforts have been devoted to immobilizing zwitterionic polymers (polyzwitterions, PZIs) on the material surfaces. However, these efforts usually suffer from cumbersome and time-consuming procedures. Herein we report a one-step strategy to facilely achieve the bioinspired polydopamine/polyzwitterion (PDA/PZI) coatings on various substrates. It requires only 30 min to form PDA/PZI coatings by mixing oxidant, dopamine, and zwitterionic monomers, including carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA), sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and 2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). These bioinspired coatings display multifunctional properties such as underwater antioil-adhesion and antifreezing thanks to their high hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. The coatings even show the antiadhesion property for crude oil with high viscosity. Therefore, the PDA/PZI-coated meshes are efficient for separating both light oil and crude oil from oil/water mixtures. All these results demonstrate that the one-step strategy is a facile approach to design and exploit the bioinspired PDA/PZI coatings for diverse applications.

Unigene-based RNA-seq provides insights on drought stress responses in Marsdenia tenacissima.

Marsdenia tenacissima is a well-known anti-cancer medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, which often grows on the karst landform and the water conservation capacity of land is very poorly and drought occurrences frequently. We found M. tenacissima has strong drought resistance because of continuousdrought16 d, the leaves of M. tenacissima were fully curly and dying. But the leaves were fully almost recovering after re-watering 24h. The activity of SOD and POD were almost doubled under drought stress. The content of osmotic regulating substance proline and soluble sugar were three times than control group. But after re-watering, these indexes were declined rapidly. Three cDNA libraries of control, drought stress, and re-watering treatments were constructed. There were 43,129,228, 47,116,844, and 42,815,454 clean reads with Q20 values of 98.06, 98.04, and 97.88respectively.SRA accession number of raw data was PRJNA498187 on NCBI. A total of 8672, 6043, and 6537 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in control vs drought stress, control vs re-watering, and drought stress vs re-watering, respectively. In addition, 1039, 1016, and 980 transcription factors (TFs) were identified, respectively. Among them, 363, 267, and 299 TFs were identified as DEGs in drought stress, re-watering, and drought stress and re-watering, respectively. These differentially expressed TFs mainly belonged to the bHLH, bZIP, C2H2, ERF, MYB, MYB-related, and NAC families. A comparative analysis found that 1174 genes were up-regulated and 2344 were down-regulated under drought stress and this pattern was the opposite to that found after re-watering. Among the up-regulated genes, 64 genes were homologous to known functional genes that directly protect plants against drought stress. Furthermore, 44 protein kinases and 38 TFs with opposite expression patterns under drought stress and re-watering were identified, which are possibly candidate regulators for drought stress resistance in M. tenacissima. Our study is the first to characterize the M. tenacissima transcriptome in response to drought stress, and will serve as a useful resource for future studies on the functions of candidate protein kinases and TFs involved in M. tenacissima drought stress resistance.

[Flavanoids Extracted from Onion Inhibited Activation of Microglia and Release of Proinflammatory Factors around the Hematoma in ICH Model Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study flavanoids extracted from onion (FEO) on the number of activated microglia and the release of proinflammatory factors in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model rat at different time points, and to explore its possible mechanism for treating ICH. METHODS: Totally 100 Wistar rats were used for preparing ICH model, and ICH model was successfully established in 90 of them. The 90 rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (n =10) , the ICH group (n =40) , the FEO group (n =40). Totally 100 [L autoblood was injected from fixed position to rats in the ICH group and the FEO group during modeling. Meanwhile, FEO at 0. 2 mL/10 g was given to rats in the FEO group, twice daily. No drug intervention was given to rats in the ICH group and the sham-operation group. Each group was further sub-divided into 5 sub-groups according to different time points such as 6, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 days. There were 8 rats in each sub-group of the ICH group and the FEO group, 10 groups in total. There were 2 rats in each subgroup of the sham-operation group, 5 groups in total. Neurological functions at different time points were observed by Garcia JH. The injury degree of brain tissue was observed at dif- ferent time points using HE staining. Activated microglia around hematoma were observed at different time points after ICH by using immunohistochemical staining. Expressions of TNF-α and IL-1 ß at different time points after ICH was detected using ELISA. RESULTS: In the ICH group, degenerated and necrotic zone occurred around hematoma after injecting autoblood, cells were untidily arranged with irregular nucleus, partial nucleus were shrunken with lamellar interstitial edema of the medulla. As time went by, degenerated and necrotic zone was dilated; vacant zone occurred around cells; cells were unevenly distributed with reduced neuron numbers. Meanwhile, infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils occurred. In the FEO group after FEO intervention, necrotic cells were lesser, cell arrangement and nucleus morphology were obviously alleviated, and infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced at corresponding time points. Compared with the sham-operation group, behavioral scores at 5 time points all decreased, the number of activated microglia was added, and expressions of TNF-α and IL-1 ß in hematoma tissue increased in the ICH group (P <0. 01). Compared with the ICH group, behavioral scores at 48 and 72 h, as well as day 7 all increased, the number of activated microglia was reduced, and expressions of TNF-α and IL-1ß in hematoma tissue decreased in the FEO group (P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: FEO using the ethanol reflux method could improve symptoms of ICH model rats possibly by inhibiting activation of microolia and the release of proinflammatory factors around the hematoma.

[Wild resources survey of Marsdenia tenacissima in Honghe, Yunnan].

To ascertain current situation of wild Marsdenia tenacissima resources in Honghe, Yunnan province, the distribution, habitat characteristic and resources reserves of M. tenacissima were surveyed based on interviews and investigation. The results showed that M. tenacissima was found in 7 counties such as Jinping, Mengzi etc, and distributed mainly on the mountainsides from 800 m to 1 200 m. And distribution was affected by many factors, such as light, heat, topography, soil, and vegetation. M. tenacissima grew well in distribution areas. M. tenacissima had averagely a weight of 2.8 kg per plant. Resources reserve of M. tenacissima in Honghe was estimated to 1 300 tons by now but it reduced rapidly in resent years, the wild resources reserve may not meet demand of market. Resources protection and wildlife tending would be conducted to deal with increasing medication requirements.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory caffeoyl phenylpropanoid and secoiridoid glycosides from Jasminum nervosum stems, a Chinese folk medicine.

Eight compounds including four caffeoyl phenylpropanoid glycosides, jasnervosides A-D (1-4), one monoterpenoid glycoside, jasnervoside E (5), and three secoiridoid glycosides, jasnervosides F-H (10-12), were isolated from the stems of Jasminum nervosum Lour. (Oleaceae), along with four known compounds, poliumoside (6), verbascoside (7), α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-1-O-E-caffeoyl-ß-d-glucopyranoside (8), and jaspolyanthoside (9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their physicochemical and spectroscopic properties. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 11 displayed potent antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay, while 2 and 3 displayed good activities against LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1ß production in BV2 cells. Compounds 1-5 and 10-12 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (A-549, Bel-7402, and HCT-8), but none displayed significant activity.

Preparation of selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum and its effect on tumor growth and immune function of tumor-bearing mice.

In this study, we demonstrated selenium (Se) accumulation in Bifidobacterium longum strain (B. longum) and evaluated the effect of Se-enriched B. longum (Se-B. longum) on tumor growth and immune function in tumor-bearing mice. Analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) revealed that more than 99% of Se in Se-B. longum was organic, the main component of which was selenomethionine (SeMet). In the in vivo experiments, tumor-bearing mice (n=8) were orally administrated with different doses of Se-B. longum alone or combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX). The results showed that the middle and high dose of Se-B. longum significantly inhibited tumor growth. When Se-B. longum and CTX were combined, the antitumor effect was significantly enhanced and the survival time of tumor-bearing mice (n=12) was prolonged. Furthermore, compared with CTX alone, the combination of Se-B. longum and CTX stimulated the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and T lymphocytes, increasing the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the leukocyte count of H22 tumor-bearing mice (n=12).

[Water treatment residual as a bioretention media amendment for phosphorus removal].

The characteristics of phosphorus adsorption of both soil and water treatment residual (WTR) were investigated through batch tests. The removal of phosphorus in runoff by bioretention column was evaluated. Furthermore, the feasibility of taking the WTR as a bioretention amendment was discussed. The results indicated that the phosphorus adsorptive capacity of WTR was significantly higher than that of soil. With a high influent phosphorus concentrations (1.0 mg x L(-1)), the columns with amended media showed a better long-term removal efficiency than the columns with traditional media. The concentrations of TP in effluent from columns with amended media were less than 0.050 mg x L(-1) after 7 months' continuous operation. According to batch test results, it was estimated that the phosphorus adsorptive capacity of amended media, which was mixed with 4% of WTR, was 4 times as high as the traditional media under same conditions. Adsorption and precipitation by amorphous iron and aluminum is the main mechanism for phosphorus removal in amended media. It is recommended that the mixture with 4% - 5% of WTR by mass in media would improve the phosphorus removal of bioretention in engineering practice.

[Cloning and bioinformation analysis of flavone synthase II gene of Erigeron breviscapus].

OBJECTIVE: Erigeron breviscapus is a medicinal plant with the most developmental potential in Yunnan province, which is belongs to Erigeron genus of Compositae family. Scutellarin, the main active component of Erigeron breviscapus is one of flavone 7-O-glucuronide derivatives, its biosynthesis pathway is still not clear. METHOD: Full length cDNA encoding flavone syhthase II gene in E. breviscapus was cloned in this study using R-PCR, 3'-RACE and 5'-RACE. RESULT: The opening reading frame of FS II cDNA of E. breviscapus is 1 557 bp long and encoding 518 amino acids, designed as EbFS II, which is highly homologous with FS II of Compositae species, like Callistephus chinensis, Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, Gerbera hybrida, Dahlia pinnata and Lobelia erinus. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic analysis showed that EbFS II might has the function of directly converting flavanone to flavone.

[Relationship between expression of chalcone synthase gene (CHS) and scutellarin content in Erigeron breviscapus].

OBJECTIVE: Scutellarin from Erigeron breviscapus is a flavonoid with remarkable pharmacological activity, whose route of biosynthesis is still fully clear. Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the key enzyme regulating flavonoids biosynthesis, and the aim of this study is to explain the relationship between patterns of the gene expression and scutellarin content through studying CHS gene expression patterns combined with scutellarin content in various parts of E. breviscapus. METHOD: Through RT-PCR and RACE, the full length of CHS was cloned and analyzed by fluorescent quantitative PCR. The scutellarin content in tissues was analyzed by HPLC. RESULT: The full-length gene sequence was 1 270 bp, encoding 405 amino acids. Software analysis found that the DNA sequence was 80% similarity with Compositae plant homeo-box gene. Fluorescence quantitative analysis showed that CHS had the highest expression level in leaves, far higher than that in root, stem and flower. HPLC analysis showed that the scutellarin was the highest in leaves, followed by the flowers and stems, scutellarin was not detected in root. CONCLUSION: Correlation analysis showed that CHS expression amount and scutellarin content in different parts of E. breviscapus is positive correlation (r = 0.761, P < 0.05), it suggests that CHS gene expression level has important effect on biosynthesis of scutellarin.

[Genetic diversity and group consistency of breeding strains of Erigeron breviscapus determined by AFLP marker].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genetic diversity and breeding strains of the E. breviscapus germplasms, in order to provide theoretical information for Erigeron breviscapus breeding. METHOD: The genetic diversity and genetic structure were assayed to six germplasm resource of E. breviscapus which collected from Yunnna with 11 pairs primers and AFLP molecular marker. RESULT: Six hundred and four amplification bands among 636 DNA bands were from six accession of E. breviscapus, which are about 82.40% of total bands. The six germplasms could be divided into three group at the 0. 706 similarity coefficient level. The first category include QS-1, QS-2 and Dali, Shilin, Kunming population. The second category included wild population of Qiubei. The third category included several sample from different district. The mean genetic similarity coefficient of QS-1 and QS-2 was bigger, genetic similarity coefficient range was smaller, hereditary character was more stable. Molecular system clustering analysis showed that the geographical origin of the same part had relative polymerization phenomenon and its genetic relationship was close. Qiubei was a single group possibly relating to the specific genetic basis. CONCLUSION: The analysis of genetic diversity of E. breviscapus by AFLP marker is reliable. The systematic E. breviscapus breeding is feasible.

Hypothalamic histaminergic and orexinergic modulation on cerebellar and vestibular motor control.

Somatic-nonsomatic integration is critical for generation and execution of an appropriate and coordinated behavioral response to changes in internal and external environments. However, the underlying neural substrates and mechanisms are still enigmatic. Intriguingly, the central histaminergic and orexinergic systems originating from the hypothalamus, a high autonomic regulatory center, innervate almost the whole brain including various subcortical motor structures, particularly the cerebellum and vestibular nuclei. Here, we suggest that the hypothalamic histaminergic and orexinergic system bridging the nonsomatic center to somatic motor structures may actively modulate the cerebellar and vestibular nuclear neurons and subsequently participate in motor control and somatic-nonsomatic integration.

Two new C19-diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum transsectum.

Two new C(19)-diterpenoid alkaloids, named aconitramines D (1) and E (2), were isolated from the roots of Aconitum transsectum. Based on comprehensive spectroscopic analyses including IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR, their structures were elucidated as 18-demethoxyltransconitine A (1) and 8-O-anisoyl-14-hydroxylacoforesticine (2).

Scavenging effect of Naoerkang on amyloid beta-peptide deposition in the hippocampus in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of a Chinese medicine compound, Naoerkang (NEK), on amyloid-beta peptide (1-42; Aß(1-42)) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expressions in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats. METHODS: A total of 48 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control, untreated, and piracetam groups, and low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose NEK groups, with 8 rats in each group. The 5-µL aggregated Aß(1-42) (2 µg/µL) were injected into both CA1 areas of the hippocampus in the rats to establish an AD model, whereas the normal control was treated with the same dose of normal saline. The rats in the NEK groups were treated with a high, medium, or low dose of NEK [60 g/(kg·d), 30 g/(kg·d), and 15 g/(kg·d)], respectively, intragastrically for 28 days; piracetam (0.375 g/kg, intragastrically) was consecutively administered in the piracetam group; and normal saline was applied in the normal control and untreated groups. A Y-maze test was used for behavioral study to test the learning and memory abilities. Aß(1-42) and MMP-9 expressions in the hippocampus was determined immunohistochemically, and the results were analyzed by image acquisition and an analysis system. RESULTS: Aggregated Aß(1-42) induced obvious learning and memory dysfunction, as well as up-regulation of Aß(1-42) expression in the hippocampus. Compared with those in the normal control group, the learning and memory abilities of rats in the untreated group significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of Aß(1-42) was significantly increased (P<0.01). Twenty-eight days after different treatments, compared with those in the untreated group, the learning and memory abilities of AD model rats in the piracetam, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose NEK groups were significantly improved (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the expression of Aß(1-42) in the hippocampus decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and MMP-9 increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), especially in the high-dose NEK group. CONCLUSION: NEK might play a role of anti-dementia by increasing the expression of MMP-9 in the hippocampus of AD model rats, resulting in the reduction of the quantity of Aß(1-42) and improvement in learning and memory ability in AD model rats.

Assessment of nutrients and heavy metals enrichment in surface sediments from Taihu Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake in China.

Concentrations of the nutrients (TN and TP), phosphorus fractions and heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Hg) in 40 surface sediment samples collected from Taihu Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake in China, were determined. The results showed that the northwest region of the lake possessed higher concentrations of TN and TP, as well as the similar spatial distribution trend in the water column. This should be related to excessive anthropogenic input from industrial effluents and domestic sewage in surrounding areas. Similarly, the concentrations of P fractions exhibited significant regularity. In addition, except for Sr showing low concentration, the rest of the heavy metals in the surface sediments had two- to four-folds of magnitude of the concentrations compared with the reference values in earth's crust. In the past decade, concentrations of heavy metals had undergone different levels of variations. Principal component analysis (PCA) and enrichment factors (EFs) of the compositional data aiming at heavy metals showed that Taihu Lake was slightly exposing to heavy metal contamination except Sr. High concentrations of heavy metals were ascribed to the discharge of untreated and partially treated industrial waste water via rivers. Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn positively correlated with each other (R = 0.78-0.92), that indicated they had analogous sources and/or kindred geochemistry characteristics. Differing from nutrients, randomness in the space indicated that heavy metals had a complex distribution.

[Space distribution characteristics and diversity analysis of phosphorus from overlying water and surface sediments in Taihu Lake].

The physi-chemical indexes in the overlying water and surface sediments of Taihu Lake, an eutrophic shallow lake, were determined. Then, the isopleth maps of spatial distribution of each parameter were illustrated. The results show that the concentrations of SRP, TP and TN in the overlying water and TOC, TN and TP as well as phosphorus fractions in surface sediments exhibit distinct diversity in spatially. The lowest values of TP and TN were 0.05, 0.88 mg x L(-1), respectively. The concentrations of Fe-P ranged from 29.13 to 258.31 mg x kg(-1). Besides, the northwest lake regions, high-load Ca-P was surveyed in the South Taihu Lake and East Taihu Lake with the highest value of 357.68 mg x kg(-1). The highest concentration of OP, 371.91 mg x kg(-1) was detected in the northwest region of the lake. IP takes up a greater proportion of TP than OP, and the highest value is approximately 50% higher than the lowest value. Fe-P has higher percentage in IP compared with Ca-P. Significant correlation between Fe-P, SRP and TP showed that Fe-P was the important phosphorus source of the overlying water (R: 0.49, 0.64). Furthermore, high correlation coefficients between TOC, TOC, C/N, TN, TP and phosphorus fractions suggest that higher concentration of organics was favor to the accumulation and burial of nutrients. The high-load contaminants exist principally in the Zhushan Bay, Wulihu Lake, Meiliang Bay and the northwest region of Taihu Lake. Significant heterogeneity of nutrients distribution in space of Taihu Lake connects with direct action of emission load of sewage. Simultaneously, different biogeochemical behaviors of each parameter play an important role.

Therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease: the ancient meets the future--traditional Chinese herbal medicine, electroacupuncture, gene therapy and stem cells.

In China, it has been estimated that there are more than 2.0 million people suffering from Parkinson's disease, which is currently becoming one of the most common chronic neurodegenerative disorders during recent years. For many years, scientists have struggled to find new therapeutic approaches for this disease. Since 1994, our research group led by Drs. Ji-Sheng Han and Xiao-Min Wang of Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University has developed several prospective treatment strategies for the disease. These studies cover the traditional Chinese medicine-herbal formula or acupuncture, and modern technologies such as gene therapy or stem cell replacement therapy, and have achieved some original results. It hopes that these data may be beneficial for the research development and for the future clinical utility for treatment of Parkinson's disease.

The cerebellum in feeding control: possible function and mechanism.

Accumulating anatomical, functional, and behavioral studies reveal that the cerebellum is involved in the regulation of various visceral functions including feeding control. Cerebellar lesions may induce alterations in feeding behavior and decreases in body weight. Although the exact mechanisms underlying the cerebellar regulation of food intake is still unclear, a series of studies have demonstrated that there are neural pathways directly and/or indirectly connecting the cerebellum with several important centers for feeding control, such as the hypothalamus. Electrophysiological data suggest that via the direct cerebellohypothalamic projections, the cerebellar outputs may reach, converge, and be integrated with some critical feeding signals including gastric vagal afferents, CCK, leptin, and glycemia on single hypothalamic neurons. Furthermore, recent functional imaging studies provide substantial evidences that hunger, satiation, and thirst are accompanied with a cerebellar activation. Here we describe that the cerebellum may be much more than a movement coordinator and actively participate in feeding control, i.e., it may act as an essential node linking somatic and visceral systems and help to generate an integrated and coordinated somatic-visceral response in feeding behavior.