Regulation of muscle and metabolic physiology by hypothalamic erythropoietin independently of its peripheral action.

•Hypothalamic EPO plays a role in regulating muscle and metabolic physiology independently of its peripheral action.•Hypothalamic EPO expression and the cerebrospinal fluid EPO concentration decrease in aging and obesity conditions.•Hypothalamic EPO treatment blunts the effects of aging and obesity conditions in impairing muscle and metabolic functions.•There exists a connection between the hypothalamus and bone marrow in mediating the physiological effects of central EPO.