Education

  • Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich, Switzerland, 1973

Research Interests

Dr. Berthoud is primarily interested in the role of the nervous system in the processes maintaining energy homeostasis and nutrient intake. This includes the receptors and pathways that allow the peripheral nervous system and the brain to sense the internal metabolic state and availability of important nutrients as well as the external food environment, the neural circuits integrating this information, and the behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine effector pathways leading to regulatory actions. Interests thus impinge on the areas of obesity and anorexia, gastrointestinal and liver physiology, gut-brain interactions, autonomic nervous system, cognitive neurosciences, taste physiology, and functional foods. The largely NIH funded research activities employ behavioral, neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and electrophysiological methods.

Department: Neurobiology & Nutrition

Selected Publications

  1. Sympathetic innervation of inguinal white adipose tissue in the mouse. Huesing C, Qualls-Creekmore E, Lee N, François M, Torres H, Zhang R, Burk DH, Yu S, Morrison CD, Berthoud HR, Neuhuber W, Münzberg H. J Comp Neurol. 2020 Sep 16. doi: 10.1002/cne.25031. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32935348
  2. What Should I Eat and Why? The Environmental, Genetic, and Behavioral Determinants of Food Choice: Summary from a Pennington Scientific Symposium. Qualls-Creekmore E, Marlatt KL, Aarts E, Bruce-Keller A, Church TS, Clément K, Fisher JO, Gordon-Larsen P, Morrison CD, Raybould HE, Ryan DH, Schauer PR, Spector AC, Spetter MS, Stuber GD, Berthoud HR, Ravussin E. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 Aug;28(8):1386-1396. doi: 10.1002/oby.22806. Epub 2020 Jun 10. PMID: 32520444 Review.
  3. . Minimum reporting guidelines and the role of causal inference in functional neuroimaging for obesity research.
    Davis T, Berthoud HR, Binks M. Int J Obes (Lond). 2020 Aug;44(8):1633-1635. doi: 10.1038/s41366-020-0607-6. Epub 2020 May 28. PMID: 32467613 Free article. No abstract available.
  4. The obesity epidemic in the face of homeostatic body weight regulation: What went wrong and how can it be fixed?
    Berthoud HR, Morrison CD, Münzberg H. Physiol Behav. 2020 Aug 1;222:112959. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112959. Epub 2020 May 16.
    PMID: 32422162 Free article. Review.
  5. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity.
    Rubino F, Puhl RM, Cummings DE, Eckel RH, Ryan DH, Mechanick JI, Nadglowski J, Ramos Salas X, Schauer PR, Twenefour D, Apovian CM, Aronne LJ, Batterham RL, Berthoud HR, Boza C, Busetto L, Dicker D, De Groot M, Eisenberg D, Flint SW, Huang TT, Kaplan LM, Kirwan JP, Korner J, Kyle TK, Laferrère B, le Roux CW, McIver L, Mingrone G, Nece P, Reid TJ, Rogers AM, Rosenbaum M, Seeley RJ, Torres AJ, Dixon JB. Nat Med. 2020 Apr;26(4):485-497. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x. Epub 2020 Mar 4. PMID: 32127716 Free PMC article. Review.
  6. FGF21 and the Physiological Regulation of Macronutrient Preference.
    Hill CM, Qualls-Creekmore E, Berthoud HR, Soto P, Yu S, McDougal DH, Münzberg H, Morrison CD. Endocrinology. 2020 Mar 1;161(3):bqaa019. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa019. PMID: 32047920 Free PMC article. Review.
  7. Vagal mechanisms as neuromodulatory targets for the treatment of metabolic disease. Berthoud HR, Neuhuber WL. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019 Oct;1454(1):42-55. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14182. Epub 2019 Jul 3. PMID: 31268181 Free PMC article. Review.
  8. Sympathetic innervation of the interscapular brown adipose tissue in mouse. François M, Torres H, Huesing C, Zhang R, Saurage C, Lee N, Qualls-Creekmore E, Yu S, Morrison CD, Burk D, Berthoud HR, Münzberg H. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019 Oct;1454(1):3-13. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14119. Epub 2019 Jun 11. PMID: 31184376 Free PMC article
  9. FGF21 Signals Protein Status to the Brain and Adaptively Regulates Food Choice and Metabolism. Hill CM, Laeger T, Dehner M, Albarado DC, Clarke B, Wanders D, Burke SJ, Collier JJ, Qualls-Creekmore E, Solon-Biet SM, Simpson SJ, Berthoud HR, Münzberg H, Morrison CD.Cell Rep. 2019 Jun 4;27(10):2934-2947.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.022. PMID: 31167139 Free PMC artile
  10. Gastric bypass surgery in lean adolescent mice prevents diet-induced obesity later in life. Mumphrey MB, Hao Z, Leigh Townsend R, Qualls-Creekmore E, Yu S, Lutz TA, Münzberg H, Morrison CD, Berthoud HR.
    Sci Rep. 2019 May 27;9(1):7881. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44344-7.PMID: 31133715 Free PMC article.
  11. Mumphrey MB, Hao Z, Townsend RL, Patterson LM, Morrison CD, Münzberg H, Stylopoulos N, Ye J, Berthoud HR. Reversible hyperphagia and obesity in rats with gastric bypass by central MC3/4R blockade. Obesity, in press, 2014.
  12. Ye J, Hao Z, Mumphrey MB, Townsend RL, Patterson LM, Stylopoulos N, Münzberg H, Morrison CD, Drucker DJ, Berthoud HR. GLP-1 receptor signaling is not required for reduced body weight after RYGB in rodents. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 306: R352-R362, 2014.
  13. Shin AC, Berthoud HR. Obesity surgery: happy with less or eternally hungry? Trends Endocrinol Metab 12:S1043, Epub, Jan. 2013.
  14. Hao Z, Zhao Z, Berthoud HR, Ye J. Development and verification of a mouse model for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery with small gastric pouch. PLoS One 8:e52922, Epub, Jan. 2013
  15. Berthoud HR. Synergy: A concept in search of a definition. Endocrinology 154;3974-3977, 2013.
  16. Mumphrey MB, Patterson LM, Zheng H, Berthoud HR. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery increases number but not density of CCK, GLP-1, 5-HT, and neurotensin-expressing enteroendocrine cells in rats. Neurogastroenterol Motil 25:e70-e79, Epub, Jan. 2013.
  17. Berthoud HR. Why does gastric bypass surgery work? Science 341:351-352, 2013.
  18. Garcia- San Frutos M, Pistell PJ, Ingram DK, Berthoud HR. Feed efficiency, food choice, and food reward behaviors in young and old Fischer Rats. Neurobiol Aging 33:206.e41-53, 2012.
  19. Berthoud HR. Vagal innervation of hepatic portal vein and liver is not necessary for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery-induced hypophagia, weight loss, and hyper metabolism. Ann Surg 255: 294-301, 2012.
  20. Berthoud HR, Zheng H, Shin AC. Food reward in the obese and after weight loss induced by calorie restriction and bariatric surgery. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2012
  21. Berthoud HR, Zheng H. Modulation of taste responsiveness and food preference by obesity and weight loss. Physiol Behav. 2012.
  22. Berthoud HR, Münzberg H, Richards BK, Morrison CD. Neural and metabolic regulation of macronutrient intake and selection. Proc Nutr Soc. 2012.
  23. Berthoud HR. Central Regulation of hunger, satiety, and body weight. In: Food and Addiction: A Comprehensive Handbook, Brownell K, Gold M. (Eds.) Oxford University Press, 2012.
  24. Shin AC, Zheng H, Pistell PJ, Berthoud HR. Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery changes food reward in rats. Int J Obes (Lond). 35(5):642-51, 2011. PMID:20805826
  25. Shin AC, Townsend RL, Patterson LM, Berthoud HR. 'Liking' and 'wanting' of sweet and oily food stimuli as affected by high-fat diet-induced obesity, weight loss, leptin, and genetic predisposition. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011. PMCID:PMC3213949
  26. Berthoud HR, Shin AC, Zheng H. Obesity, surgery, and gut-brain communication. Physiol Behav. 30;105(1):106-19, 2011. PMID:21315095
  27. Berthoud HR, Lenard NR, Shin AC. Food reward, hyperphagia, and obesity. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol., 2011. PMCID:PMC3119156
  28. Shin AC, Berthoud HR. Food reward functions as affected by obesity and bariatric surgery. Int J Obes, 35 Suppl 3:S40-4, 2011. PMID:21912387
  29. Berthoud HR, Münzberg H. The lateral hypothalamus as integrator of metabolic and environmental needs: From electrical self-stimulation to opto-genetics. Physiol Behav. 104(1):29-39. 2011 PMCID:PMC3131619
  30. Tam CS, Berthoud HR, Bueter M, Chakravarthy MV, Geliebter A, Hajnal A, Holst J, Kaplan L, Pories W, Raybould H, Seeley R, Strader A, Ravussin E. Could the mechanisms of bariatric surgery hold the key for novel therapies?: report from a Pennington Scientific Symposium. Obes Rev. 12(11):984-994, 2011.
  31. Berthoud HR. Metabolic and hedonic drives in the neural control of appetite: who is the boss? Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2011. PMCID:PMC3254791
  32. Lenard NR, Zheng H, Berthoud HR. Chronic suppression of mu-opioid receptor signaling in the nucleus accumbens attenuates development of diet-induced obesity in rats. Int J Obes (Lond) 34: 1001-1010, 2010. PMCID: PMC2885588
  33. Shin AC, Zheng H, Townsend RL, Sigalet DL, Berthoud HR. Meal-induced hormone responses in a rat model of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Endocrinology 151: 1588-1597, 2010. PMCID: PMC2850245
  34. Shin AC, Pistell PJ, Phifer CB, Berthoud HR. Reversible suppression of food reward behavior by chronic mu-opioid receptor antagonism in the nucleus accumbens. Neuroscience, 170(2):580-8, 2010. PMCID: PMC2933316.
  35. Shin, A.C., H. Zheng, and Berthoud HR. An expanded view of energy homeostasis: neural integration of metabolic, cognitive and emotional drives to eat. Physiol Behav 97(5):572-80, 2009.
  36. Berthoud, HR. and C. Morrison. The brain, appetite, and obesity. Annu Rev Psychol 59:55-92, 2008.
  37. Dishman RK, Berthoud HR, Booth F, Cotman CW, Edgerton VR, Fleshner MR, Gandevia SC, et al. The Neurobiology of exercise. Obesity (Silver Spring) 14: 345-356, 2006.
  38. Berthoud, H.-R. Vagal and hormonal gut-brain communication: from satiation to satisfaction. Neurogastroenterol Motil 20 (Suppl. 1):64-72, 2008.
  39. Wan S., K.N. Browning, G.M. Sutton, F.H. Coleman, A.A Butler, H.-R. Berthoud and R.A. Travagli. Presynaptic MC4-receptors on vagal afferent fibers modulate the excitability of rat nucleus tractus solitarius neurons. J Neurosci 28:4957-4966. 2008.
  40. Berthoud HR. Mind versus metabolism in the control of food intake and energy balance. Physiol Behav 81: 781-793, 2004.
  41. Berthoud HR. Multiple neural systems controlling food intake and body weight. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 26:393-428, 2002.