Question

Ron is a hungry 52 year-old carnivore. Today he is visiting his favorite restaurant – Charles Mulligan’s Steakhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he plans to consume several porterhouse steaks accompanied by a good scotch. In addition, on the dietary advice of his co-worker, Ann, Ron eats one banana per day as a mid-day snack. After his meal, Ron plans to go hiking in the woods for a prolonged period of time without bringing any food supplies. Based on the information provided in your textbook (Watson & Breedlove, Chp 9), explain how the following terms relate to Ron’s experience as described above: glucose, glycogen, insulin, glucagon, arcuate nucleus, adipose tissue, ketones, leptin, ghrelin, PYY3-36, POMC neurons, NPY neurons, cholecystokinin, endocannabinoids, anandamide and the dopaminergic reward system.

Answer 1

Before taking lunch, Ron's stomach will release Gherlin, a hormone which stimulates hunger. The Neuropeptide Y (NPY) -producing neurons in His Arcuate Nucleus will also help in stimulating hunger. This will make him hungry, and he will go for lunch. After eating enough food, his lower intestines will release PYY3-36, a peptide that puts a break in eating. This will give him a sense of satiety. The same function will be carried out by Arcuate nucleus neurons that release the Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) to inhibit hunger. After Ron finishes his lunch, the Enteroendocrine cells in the Duodenum, will release Cholecystokinin, a hormone that will release bile into his intestines to stimulate the digestion process (of proteins and fats). Anandamide, a neurotransmitter will work to stimulate Ron to take some "Good Scotch". Since Ron took a Banana. Bananas contain Carbohydrates and Sugars. The body breaks down these carbohydrates into a form of sugar called "Glucose". Glucose is our main source of energy for our body. When Ron will go for Hiking, his body will use this glucose as a fuel. However, not all of it will be consumed. So the body will convert this left over glucose into "Glycogen" to store it. In order to utilize this glucose the body will release a hormone (via beta cells of the pancreas) called "Insulin". Insulin is a hormone that helps the body to utilize Glucose or store it (in the form of Glycogen). So now when Ron is resting and not doing any work, his body is releasing Insulin to store the extra calories that he has not utilized yet. When Ron will go to the woods, he will need some energy (in the form of glucose) to do with hiking. Since he doesn't have any food with him, so his body will order pancreas to release another hormone called Glucagon. It's a hormone which instructs the liver to release the stored energy that Ron is going to use during his hiking. Since Ron took Steak, so his body will store the fat (from steak) and store it too with the help of Adipose tissue. Adipose tissue will release Leptin (a hormone made by adipose cells) to help it store this fat. Since Ron took only one Banana which might not have enough glucose to keep him going, plus he has no extra food with him. So his liver will convert the fat that his body stored in a more consumable form known as Ketones. So Ron will use Ketones now to supply fuel to his body and support his high energy consuming task - Hiking. Endocannabinoids will give Ron a pleasurable and rewarding feeling after he engages in Hiking. His brain will use the "Dopaminergic Reward System" the stimulate this rewarding feeling by releasing the neurotransmitter "Dopamine".

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