Neuronal Control of Distal Mitochondrial Stress Responses and Their Impact on Metabolism

Life is stressful, and so the ability to respond appropriately to physiological stress is an essential skill for all living organisms. This thesis examines the mechanisms the brain uses to control mitochondrial health in the rest of the body. The results presented in this thesis describe two novel molecular pathways which originate in the nervous system and impact intestinal mitochondrial health. These results may have interesting implications for disease states where neuronal communication is disrupted – for example, during neurodegenerative diseases – which have metabolic impacts on various body systems.