Nutritional and Environmental Modulation of The Endocrine System: Effects on Metabolism and Growth.

In the recent decades, the incidences of metabolic disorders have dramatically increased globally. Metabolic disorders involve a complex cluster of linked factors, which increase the risk of diseases and cause detrimental effects on growth. Modifications of metabolism, growth and cell homeostasis are based on alterations of the endocrine system that, working in cooperation with the nervous system, regulates these functions. These two systems regulate each other and are modulated by feedback mechanisms. Nevertheless, throughout lifetime, the body undergoes changes that can affect the way the endocrine system works. Some of the factors that distress endocrine organs or cells are: diet, genetics, aging, stress, diseases and the environment. It is our interest to provide evidence about the molecular principle behind the complex interactions of all these factors on the control of the endocrine and nervous systems regulating the metabolic process.

In this Research Topic, focus will be addressed to studies (including original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) that investigate and discuss about positive or negative factors able to interact with metabolism and growth in model organisms or farmed species. Manuscripts that address one or more of the following themes are invited:

- The effects of nutritional factors (diet, feeding systems, additives, probiotics, prebiotics, etc.) on metabolism and growth.

- The influence of environmental factors (temperature, salinity, pH) or other external factors including pollutants, which may act as endocrine modulators/disruptors and affect metabolism.

- The modulation of orexigenic and anorexigenic signals involved in the feed intake control at the central and peripheral levels and their effects on metabolism and body growth.