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Luppi PH, Malcey J, Chancel A, Duval B, Cabrera S, Fort P. Neuronal network controlling REM sleep. J Sleep Res 2024:e14266. [PMID: 38972672 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Rapid eye movement sleep is a state characterized by concomitant occurrence of rapid eye movements, electroencephalographic activation and muscle atonia. In this review, we provide up to date knowledge on the neuronal network controlling its onset and maintenance. It is now accepted that muscle atonia during rapid eye movement sleep is due to activation of glutamatergic neurons localized in the pontine sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus. These neurons directly project and excite glycinergic/γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic pre-motoneurons localized in the ventromedial medulla. The sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus rapid eye movement-on neurons are inactivated during wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement by rapid eye movement-off γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic neurons localized in the ventrolateral periaqueductal grey and the adjacent dorsal deep mesencephalic reticular nucleus. Melanin-concentrating hormone and γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic rapid eye movement sleep-on neurons localized in the lateral hypothalamus would inhibit these rapid eye movement sleep-off neurons initiating the state. Finally, the activation of a few limbic cortical structures during rapid eye movement sleep by the claustrum and the supramammillary nucleus as well as that of the basolateral amygdala would be involved in the function(s) of rapid eye movement sleep. In summary, rapid eye movement sleep is generated by a brainstem generator controlled by forebrain structures involved in autonomic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Hervé Luppi
- INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France
- University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Justin Malcey
- INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France
- University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Amarine Chancel
- INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France
- University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Blandine Duval
- INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Cabrera
- INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France
- University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Patrice Fort
- INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France
- University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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2
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Spencer CD, Miller PA, Williams-Ikhenoba JG, Nikolova RG, Chee MJ. Regulation of the Mouse Ventral Tegmental Area by Melanin-Concentrating Hormone. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0790232024. [PMID: 38806249 PMCID: PMC11223476 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0790-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) acts via its sole receptor MCHR1 in rodents and is an important regulator of homeostatic behaviors like feeding, sleep, and mood to impact overall energy balance. The loss of MCH signaling by MCH or MCHR1 deletion produces hyperactive mice with increased energy expenditure, and these effects are consistently associated with a hyperdopaminergic state. We recently showed that MCH suppresses dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, which principally receives dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), but the mechanisms underlying MCH-regulated dopamine release are not clearly defined. MCHR1 expression is widespread and includes dopaminergic VTA cells. However, as the VTA is a neurochemically diverse structure, we assessed Mchr1 gene expression at glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic VTA cells and determined if MCH inhibited the activity of VTA cells and/or their local microcircuit. Mchr1 expression was robust in major VTA cell types, including most dopaminergic (78%) or glutamatergic cells (52%) and some GABAergic cells (38%). Interestingly, MCH directly inhibited dopaminergic and GABAergic cells but did not regulate the activity of glutamatergic cells. Rather, MCH produced a delayed increase in excitatory input to dopamine cells and a corresponding decrease in GABAergic input to glutamatergic VTA cells. Our findings suggested that MCH may acutely suppress dopamine release while disinhibiting local glutamatergic signaling to restore dopamine levels. This indicated that the VTA is a target of MCH action, which may provide bidirectional regulation of energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Duncan Spencer
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Persephone A Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | | | - Ralitsa G Nikolova
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
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3
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Pham XT, Abe Y, Mukai Y, Ono D, Tanaka KF, Ohmura Y, Wake H, Yamanaka A. Glutamatergic signaling from melanin-concentrating hormone-producing neurons: A requirement for memory regulation, but not for metabolism control. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae275. [PMID: 39035036 PMCID: PMC11259978 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone-producing neurons (MCH neurons), found mainly in the lateral hypothalamus and surrounding areas, play essential roles in various brain functions, including sleep and wakefulness, reward, metabolism, learning, and memory. These neurons coexpress several neurotransmitters and act as glutamatergic neurons. The contribution of glutamate from MCH neurons to memory- and metabolism-related functions has not been fully investigated. In a mouse model, we conditionally knocked out Slc17a6 gene, which encodes for vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGlut2), in the MCH neurons exclusively by using two different methods: the Cre recombinase/loxP system and in vivo genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9. Then, we evaluated several aspects of memory and measured metabolic rates using indirect calorimetry. We found that mice with MCH neuron-exclusive vGlut2 ablation had higher discrimination ratios between novel and familiar stimuli for novel object recognition, object location, and three-chamber tests. In contrast, there was no significant change in body weight, food intake, oxygen consumption, respiratory quotient, or locomotor activity. These findings suggest that glutamatergic signaling from MCH neurons is required to regulate memory, but its role in regulating metabolic rate is negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Thang Pham
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Yoshifumi Abe
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Mukai
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ono
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kenji F Tanaka
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yu Ohmura
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing (CIBR), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hiroaki Wake
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing (CIBR), Beijing 102206, China
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
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4
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Concetti C, Viskaitis P, Grujic N, Duss SN, Privitera M, Bohacek J, Peleg-Raibstein D, Burdakov D. Exploratory Rearing Is Governed by Hypothalamic Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neurons According to Locus Ceruleus. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0015242024. [PMID: 38575343 PMCID: PMC11112542 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0015-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Information seeking, such as standing on tiptoes to look around in humans, is observed across animals and helps survival. Its rodent analog-unsupported rearing on hind legs-was a classic model in deciphering neural signals of cognition and is of intense renewed interest in preclinical modeling of neuropsychiatric states. Neural signals and circuits controlling this dedicated decision to seek information remain largely unknown. While studying subsecond timing of spontaneous behavioral acts and activity of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons (MNs) in behaving male and female mice, we observed large MN activity spikes that aligned to unsupported rears. Complementary causal, loss and gain of function, analyses revealed specific control of rear frequency and duration by MNs and MCHR1 receptors. Activity in a key stress center of the brain-the locus ceruleus noradrenaline cells-rapidly inhibited MNs and required functional MCH receptors for its endogenous modulation of rearing. By defining a neural module that both tracks and controls rearing, these findings may facilitate further insights into biology of information seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Concetti
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Paulius Viskaitis
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Nikola Grujic
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Sian N Duss
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Mattia Privitera
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Bohacek
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Daria Peleg-Raibstein
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Denis Burdakov
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Center Zürich (ZNZ), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
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5
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Heiss JE, Zhong P, Lee SM, Yamanaka A, Kilduff TS. Distinct lateral hypothalamic CaMKIIα neuronal populations regulate wakefulness and locomotor activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316150121. [PMID: 38593074 PMCID: PMC11032496 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316150121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
For nearly a century, evidence has accumulated indicating that the lateral hypothalamus (LH) contains neurons essential to sustain wakefulness. While lesion or inactivation of LH neurons produces a profound increase in sleep, stimulation of inhibitory LH neurons promotes wakefulness. To date, the primary wake-promoting cells that have been identified in the LH are the hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt) neurons, yet these neurons have little impact on total sleep or wake duration across the 24-h period. Recently, we and others have identified other LH populations that increase wakefulness. In the present study, we conducted microendoscopic calcium imaging in the LH concomitant with EEG and locomotor activity (LMA) recordings and found that a subset of LH neurons that express Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) are preferentially active during wakefulness. Chemogenetic activation of these neurons induced sustained wakefulness and greatly increased LMA even in the absence of Hcrt signaling. Few LH CaMKIIα-expressing neurons are hypocretinergic or histaminergic while a small but significant proportion are GABAergic. Ablation of LH inhibitory neurons followed by activation of the remaining LH CaMKIIα neurons induced similar levels of wakefulness but blunted the LMA increase. Ablated animals showed no significant changes in sleep architecture but both spontaneous LMA and high theta (8 to 10 Hz) power during wakefulness were reduced. Together, these findings indicate the existence of two subpopulations of LH CaMKIIα neurons: an inhibitory population that promotes locomotion without affecting sleep architecture and an excitatory population that promotes prolonged wakefulness even in the absence of Hcrt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime E. Heiss
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA94025
| | - Peng Zhong
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA94025
| | - Stephanie M. Lee
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA94025
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya464-8601, Japan
| | - Thomas S. Kilduff
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA94025
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Luppi PH, Chancel A, Malcey J, Cabrera S, Fort P, Maciel RM. Which structure generates paradoxical (REM) sleep: The brainstem, the hypothalamus, the amygdala or the cortex? Sleep Med Rev 2024; 74:101907. [PMID: 38422648 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Paradoxical or Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (PS) is a state characterized by REMs, EEG activation and muscle atonia. In this review, we discuss the contribution of brainstem, hypothalamic, amygdalar and cortical structures in PS genesis. We propose that muscle atonia during PS is due to activation of glutamatergic neurons localized in the pontine sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus (SLD) projecting to glycinergic/GABAergic pre-motoneurons localized in the ventro-medial medulla (vmM). The SLD PS-on neurons are inactivated during wakefulness and slow-wave sleep by PS-off GABAergic neurons localized in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vPAG) and the adjacent deep mesencephalic reticular nucleus. Melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) and GABAergic PS-on neurons localized in the posterior hypothalamus would inhibit these PS-off neurons to initiate the state. Finally, the activation of a few limbic cortical structures during PS by the claustrum and the supramammillary nucleus as well as that of the basolateral amygdala would also contribute to PS expression. Accumulating evidence indicates that the activation of these limbic structures plays a role in memory consolidation and would communicate to the PS-generating structures the need for PS to process memory. In summary, PS generation is controlled by structures distributed from the cortex to the medullary level of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Hervé Luppi
- INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, SLEEP Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France; University Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
| | - Amarine Chancel
- INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, SLEEP Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France; University Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Justin Malcey
- INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, SLEEP Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France; University Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Cabrera
- INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, SLEEP Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France; University Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Patrice Fort
- INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, SLEEP Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France; University Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Renato M Maciel
- INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, SLEEP Team "Physiopathologie des réseaux neuronaux responsables du cycle veille-sommeil", Lyon, France; University Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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7
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Chancel A, Fort P, Luppi PH. The role of the hypothalamic Lhx6 GABAergic neurons in REM sleep control. Sleep 2024; 47:zsad331. [PMID: 38159085 PMCID: PMC10925945 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amarine Chancel
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, SLEEP Team, Bron, France
| | - Patrice Fort
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, SLEEP Team, Bron, France
| | - Pierre-Hervé Luppi
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, SLEEP Team, Bron, France
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8
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Concetti C, Peleg-Raibstein D, Burdakov D. Hypothalamic MCH Neurons: From Feeding to Cognitive Control. FUNCTION 2023; 5:zqad059. [PMID: 38020069 PMCID: PMC10667013 DOI: 10.1093/function/zqad059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern neuroscience is progressively elucidating that the classic view positing distinct brain regions responsible for survival, emotion, and cognitive functions is outdated. The hypothalamus demonstrates the interdependence of these roles, as it is traditionally known for fundamental survival functions like energy and electrolyte balance, but is now recognized to also play a crucial role in emotional and cognitive processes. This review focuses on lateral hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons, producing the neuropeptide MCH-a relatively understudied neuronal population with integrative functions related to homeostatic regulation and motivated behaviors, with widespread inputs and outputs throughout the entire central nervous system. Here, we review early findings and recent literature outlining their role in the regulation of energy balance, sleep, learning, and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Concetti
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, ETH Zürich, Schorenstrasse 16, Schwerzenbach 8603, Switzerland
| | - Daria Peleg-Raibstein
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, ETH Zürich, Schorenstrasse 16, Schwerzenbach 8603, Switzerland
| | - Denis Burdakov
- Neurobehavioural Dynamics Laboratory, ETH Zürich, Schorenstrasse 16, Schwerzenbach 8603, Switzerland
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9
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Bouâouda H, Jha PK. Orexin and MCH neurons: regulators of sleep and metabolism. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1230428. [PMID: 37674517 PMCID: PMC10478345 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1230428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep-wake and fasting-feeding are tightly coupled behavioral states that require coordination between several brain regions. The mammalian lateral hypothalamus (LH) is a functionally and anatomically complex brain region harboring heterogeneous cell populations that regulate sleep, feeding, and energy metabolism. Significant attempts were made to understand the cellular and circuit bases of LH actions. Rapid advancements in genetic and electrophysiological manipulation help to understand the role of discrete LH cell populations. The opposing action of LH orexin/hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons on metabolic sensing and sleep-wake regulation make them the candidate to explore in detail. This review surveys the molecular, genetic, and neuronal components of orexin and MCH signaling in the regulation of sleep and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Bouâouda
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pawan Kumar Jha
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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10
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Fang LZ, Linehan V, Licursi M, Alberto CO, Power JL, Parsons MP, Hirasawa M. Prostaglandin E 2 activates melanin-concentrating hormone neurons to drive diet-induced obesity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302809120. [PMID: 37467285 PMCID: PMC10401019 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302809120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic inflammation reduces appetite and body weight during inflammatory diseases, while promoting weight gain when induced by high-fat diet (HFD). How hypothalamic inflammation can induce opposite energy balance outcomes remains unclear. We found that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a key hypothalamic inflammatory mediator of sickness, also mediates diet-induced obesity (DIO) by activating appetite-promoting melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in the hypothalamus in rats and mice. The effect of PGE2 on MCH neurons is excitatory at low concentrations while inhibitory at high concentrations, indicating that these neurons can bidirectionally respond to varying levels of inflammation. During prolonged HFD, endogenous PGE2 depolarizes MCH neurons through an EP2 receptor-mediated inhibition of the electrogenic Na+/K+-ATPase. Disrupting this mechanism by genetic deletion of EP2 receptors on MCH neurons is protective against DIO and liver steatosis in male and female mice. Thus, an inflammatory mediator can directly stimulate appetite-promoting neurons to exacerbate DIO and fatty liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Z. Fang
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Victoria Linehan
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Maria Licursi
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Christian O. Alberto
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Jacob L. Power
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Matthew P. Parsons
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Michiru Hirasawa
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’sA1B 3V6, Canada
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11
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Beekly BG, Rupp A, Burgess CR, Elias CF. Fast neurotransmitter identity of MCH neurons: Do contents depend on context? Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 70:101069. [PMID: 37149229 PMCID: PMC11190671 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons participate in many fundamental neuroendocrine processes. While some of their effects can be attributed to MCH itself, others appear to depend on co-released neurotransmitters. Historically, the subject of fast neurotransmitter co-release from MCH neurons has been contentious, with data to support MCH neurons releasing GABA, glutamate, both, and neither. Rather than assuming a position in that debate, this review considers the evidence for all sides and presents an alternative explanation: neurochemical identity, including classical neurotransmitter content, is subject to change. With an emphasis on the variability of experimental details, we posit that MCH neurons may release GABA and/or glutamate at different points according to environmental and contextual factors. Through the lens of the MCH system, we offer evidence that the field of neuroendocrinology would benefit from a more nuanced and dynamic interpretation of neurotransmitter identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- B G Beekly
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Elizabeth W. Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
| | - A Rupp
- Elizabeth W. Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - C R Burgess
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - C F Elias
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Elizabeth W. Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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12
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Jin R, Sun S, Hu Y, Zhang H, Sun X. Neuropeptides Modulate Feeding via the Dopamine Reward Pathway. Neurochem Res 2023:10.1007/s11064-023-03954-4. [PMID: 37233918 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-03954-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is a catecholamine neurotransmitter widely distributed in the central nervous system. It participates in various physiological functions, such as feeding, anxiety, fear, sleeping and arousal. The regulation of feeding is exceptionally complex, involving energy homeostasis and reward motivation. The reward system comprises the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc), hypothalamus, and limbic system. This paper illustrates the detailed mechanisms of eight typical orexigenic and anorexic neuropeptides that regulate food intake through the reward system. According to recent literature, neuropeptides released from the hypothalamus and other brain regions regulate reward feeding predominantly through dopaminergic neurons projecting from the VTA to the NAc. In addition, their effect on the dopaminergic system is mediated by the prefrontal cortex, paraventricular thalamus, laterodorsal tegmental area, amygdala, and complex neural circuits. Research on neuropeptides involved in reward feeding can help identify more targets to treat diseases with metabolic disorders, such as obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie Jin
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shanbin Sun
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hongfei Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiangrong Sun
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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13
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Sankhe AS, Bordeleau D, Alfonso DIM, Wittman G, Chee MJ. Loss of glutamatergic signalling from MCH neurons reduced anxiety-like behaviours in novel environments. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13222. [PMID: 36529144 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons within the hypothalamus are heterogeneous and can coexpress additional neuropeptides and transmitters. The majority of MCH neurons express vesicular transporters to package glutamate for synaptic release, and MCH neurons can directly innervate downstream neurons via glutamate release. Although glutamatergic signalling from MCH neurons may support physiological and behavioural roles that are independent of MCH (e.g., in glucose homeostasis and nutrient-sensing), it can also mediate similar roles to MCH in the regulation of energy balance. In addition to energy balance, the MCH system has also been implicated in mood disorders, as MCH receptor antagonists have anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects. However, the contribution of glutamatergic signalling from MCH neurons to mood-related functions have not been investigated. We crossed Mch-cre mice with floxed-Vglut2 mice to delete the expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2) and disable glutamatergic signalling specifically from MCH neurons. The resulting Mch-Vglut2-KO mice showed Vglut2 deletion from over 75% of MCH neurons, and although we did not observe changes in depressive-like behaviours, we found that Mch-Vglut2-KO mice displayed anxiety-like behaviours. Mch-Vglut2-KO mice showed reduced exploratory activity when placed in a new cage and were quicker to consume food placed in the centre of a novel open arena. These findings showed that Vglut2 deletion from MCH neurons resulted in anxiolytic actions and suggested that the anxiogenic effects of glutamate are similar to those of the MCH peptide. Taken together, these findings suggest that glutamate and MCH may synergize to regulate and promote anxiety-like behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi S Sankhe
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dillon Bordeleau
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Gábor Wittman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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14
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Potter LE, Burgess CR. The melanin-concentrating hormone system as a target for the treatment of sleep disorders. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:952275. [PMID: 36177357 PMCID: PMC9513178 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.952275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the widespread prevalence of sleep disorders and their impacts on health, it is critical that researchers continue to identify and evaluate novel avenues of treatment. Recently the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) system has attracted commercial and scientific interest as a potential target of pharmacotherapy for sleep disorders. This interest emerges from basic scientific research demonstrating a role for MCH in regulating sleep, and particularly REM sleep. In addition to this role in sleep regulation, the MCH system and the MCH receptor 1 (MCHR1) have been implicated in a wide variety of other physiological functions and behaviors, including feeding/metabolism, reward, anxiety, depression, and learning. The basic research literature on sleep and the MCH system, and the history of MCH drug development, provide cause for both skepticism and cautious optimism about the prospects of MCH-targeting drugs in sleep disorders. Extensive efforts have focused on developing MCHR1 antagonists for use in obesity, however, few of these drugs have advanced to clinical trials, and none have gained regulatory approval. Additional basic research will be needed to fully characterize the MCH system’s role in sleep regulation, for example, to fully differentiate between MCH-neuron and peptide/receptor-mediated functions. Additionally, a number of issues relating to drug design will continue to pose a practical challenge for novel pharmacotherapies targeting the MCH system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam E. Potter
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Liam E. Potter,
| | - Christian R. Burgess
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Christian R. Burgess,
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15
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Watts AG, Kanoski SE, Sanchez-Watts G, Langhans W. The physiological control of eating: signals, neurons, and networks. Physiol Rev 2022; 102:689-813. [PMID: 34486393 PMCID: PMC8759974 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00028.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past 30 yr, investigating the physiology of eating behaviors has generated a truly vast literature. This is fueled in part by a dramatic increase in obesity and its comorbidities that has coincided with an ever increasing sophistication of genetically based manipulations. These techniques have produced results with a remarkable degree of cell specificity, particularly at the cell signaling level, and have played a lead role in advancing the field. However, putting these findings into a brain-wide context that connects physiological signals and neurons to behavior and somatic physiology requires a thorough consideration of neuronal connections: a field that has also seen an extraordinary technological revolution. Our goal is to present a comprehensive and balanced assessment of how physiological signals associated with energy homeostasis interact at many brain levels to control eating behaviors. A major theme is that these signals engage sets of interacting neural networks throughout the brain that are defined by specific neural connections. We begin by discussing some fundamental concepts, including ones that still engender vigorous debate, that provide the necessary frameworks for understanding how the brain controls meal initiation and termination. These include key word definitions, ATP availability as the pivotal regulated variable in energy homeostasis, neuropeptide signaling, homeostatic and hedonic eating, and meal structure. Within this context, we discuss network models of how key regions in the endbrain (or telencephalon), hypothalamus, hindbrain, medulla, vagus nerve, and spinal cord work together with the gastrointestinal tract to enable the complex motor events that permit animals to eat in diverse situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan G Watts
- The Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Scott E Kanoski
- The Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Graciela Sanchez-Watts
- The Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Wolfgang Langhans
- Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule-Zürich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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16
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Characterization of Hypothalamic MCH Neuron Development in a 3D Differentiation System of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0442-21.2022. [PMID: 35437265 PMCID: PMC9047030 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0442-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons are important regulators of multiple physiological processes, such as sleep, feeding, and memory. Despite the increasing interest in their neuronal functions, the molecular mechanism underlying MCH neuron development remains poorly understood. We report that a three-dimensional culture of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can generate hypothalamic-like tissues containing MCH-positive neurons, which reproduce morphologic maturation, neuronal connectivity, and neuropeptide/neurotransmitter phenotype of native MCH neurons. Using this in vitro system, we demonstrate that Hedgehog (Hh) signaling serves to produce major neurochemical subtypes of MCH neurons characterized by the presence or absence of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). Without exogenous Hh signals, mESCs initially differentiated into dorsal hypothalamic/prethalamic progenitors and finally into MCH+CART+ neurons through a specific intermediate progenitor state. Conversely, activation of the Hh pathway specified ventral hypothalamic progenitors that generate both MCH+CART− and MCH+CART+ neurons. These results suggest that in vivo MCH neurons may originate from multiple cell lineages that arise through early dorsoventral patterning of the hypothalamus. Additionally, we found that Hh signaling supports the differentiation of mESCs into orexin/hypocretin neurons, a well-defined cell group intermingled with MCH neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). The present study highlights and improves the utility of mESC culture in the analysis of the developmental programs of specific hypothalamic cell types.
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Crosstalk between Melanin Concentrating Hormone and Endocrine Factors: Implications for Obesity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052436. [PMID: 35269579 PMCID: PMC8910548 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a 19aa cyclic peptide exclusively expressed in the lateral hypothalamic area, which is an area of the brain involved in a large number of physiological functions and vital processes such as nutrient sensing, food intake, sleep-wake arousal, memory formation, and reproduction. However, the role of the lateral hypothalamic area in metabolic regulation stands out as the most relevant function. MCH regulates energy balance and glucose homeostasis by controlling food intake and peripheral lipid metabolism, energy expenditure, locomotor activity and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. However, the MCH control of energy balance is a complex mechanism that involves the interaction of several neuroendocrine systems. The aim of the present work is to describe the current knowledge of the crosstalk of MCH with different endocrine factors. We also provide our view about the possible use of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor antagonists for the treatment of metabolic complications. In light of the data provided here and based on its actions and function, we believe that the MCH system emerges as an important target for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.
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18
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Wu G, Zhang X, Li S, Zhou D, Bai J, Wang H, Shu Q. Overexpression of ORX or MCH Protects Neurological Function Against Ischemic Stroke. Neurotox Res 2022; 40:44-55. [PMID: 35013906 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-021-00457-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, orexin (ORX) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) have been demonstrated to exert neuroprotective roles in cerebral ischemia. Hence, this study investigated the regulatory function of ORX and MCH in neurological function following ischemic stroke and explored the molecular mechanism underlying these functions. A rat model of ischemic stroke was developed by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and Longa scoring was employed to evaluate the degree of neurological function deficit. The expression patterns of ORX and MCH were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the brain tissues of rats with ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Moreover, electroencephalography (EEG) analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were respectively performed to detect rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, the glutamate (Glu) uptake, and the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABAB). Immunoblotting was performed to test the levels of autophagic markers LC3, BECLIN-1, and p62. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and TUNEL assays were respectively used to assess the autophagy and neuronal apoptosis. Results demonstrated that ORX and MCH were lowly expressed in brain of rats with ischemic stroke. ORX or MCH overexpression decreased neuronal apoptosis and autophagy, and improved the sleep architecture of post-stroke rats, while rescuing Glu uptake and GABA expression. ORX or MCH upregulation exerted protective effects on neurological function. Taken together, ORX and/or MCH protect against ischemic stroke in a rat model, highlighting their value as targets for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wu
- East Section of South Second Ring Road, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.151, Xi'an 710054, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xi'an Zhang
- Ninth Hospital of Xi'an Affiliated To Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Shijun Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Union Hospital, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- Ninth Hospital of Xi'an Affiliated To Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Jie Bai
- East Section of South Second Ring Road, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.151, Xi'an 710054, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hanxiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Union Hospital, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Qing Shu
- Ninth Hospital of Xi'an Affiliated To Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710054, China.
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19
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Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone regulates hippocampus-dorsolateral septum activity. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:61-71. [PMID: 34980924 PMCID: PMC8741735 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00984-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) polypeptide contributes to regulating energy homeostasis, sleep, and memory, though the mechanistic bases of its effects are unknown. Here, in mice, we uncover the physiological mechanism underlying the functional role of MCH signaling in projections to the dorsolateral septum (dLS), a region involved in routing hippocampal firing rhythms and encoding spatial memory based on such rhythms. Firing activity within the dLS in response to dorsal CA3 (dCA3) excitation is limited by strong feed-forward inhibition (FFI). We find that MCH synchronizes dLS neuronal firing with its dCA3 inputs by enhancing GABA release, which subsequently reduces the FFI and augments dCA3 excitatory input strength, both via presynaptic mechanisms. At the functional level, our data reveal a role for MCH signaling in the dLS in facilitating spatial memory. These findings support a model in which peptidergic signaling within the dLS modulates dorsal hippocampal output and supports memory encoding.
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20
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Nomura H, Son C, Aotani D, Shimizu Y, Katsuura G, Noguchi M, Kusakabe T, Tanaka T, Miyazawa T, Hosoda K, Nakao K. Impaired leptin responsiveness in the nucleus accumbens of leptin-overexpressing transgenic mice with dysregulated sucrose and lipid preference independent of obesity. Neurosci Res 2021; 177:94-102. [PMID: 34971637 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
While hypothalamic leptin resistance can occur prior to establishment of obesity, clarification is needed as to whether the impaired response to leptin in the reward-related nuclei occurs independently of obesity. To answer this question, we attempted to dissociate the normally coexisting leptin resistance from obesity. We investigated phenotypes of leptin-overexpressing transgenic mice fed for 1 week with 60 % high-fat diet (HFD) (LepTg-HFD1W mice). After 1 week, we observed that LepTg-HFD1W mice weighed as same as wild type (WT) mice fed standard chow diet (CD) for 1 week (WT-CD1W mice). However, compared to WT-CD1W mice, LepTg-HFD1W mice exhibited attenuated leptin-induced anorexia, decreased leptin-induced c-fos immunostaining in nucleus accumbens (NAc), one of important site of reward system, decreased leptin-stimulated pSTAT3 immunostaining in hypothalamus. Furthermore, neither sucrose nor lipid preference was suppressed by leptin in LepTg-HFD1W mice. On the contrary, leptin significantly suppressed both preferences in WT mice fed HFD (WT-HFD1 W mice). These results indicate that leptin responsiveness decreases in NAc independently of obesity. Additionally, in this situation, suppressive effect of leptin on the hedonic feeding results in impaired regulation. Such findings suggest the impaired leptin responsiveness in NAc partially contributes to dysregulated hedonic feeding behavior independently of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenari Nomura
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Cheol Son
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Omics Research Center, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Aotani
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Shimizu
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Human Health and Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Goro Katsuura
- Department of Social and Behavioral Medicine, Division of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Michio Noguchi
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toru Kusakabe
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Tanaka
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Miyazawa
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kiminori Hosoda
- Department of Human Health and Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuwa Nakao
- Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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21
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Al-Massadi O, Dieguez C, Schneeberger M, López M, Schwaninger M, Prevot V, Nogueiras R. Multifaceted actions of melanin-concentrating hormone on mammalian energy homeostasis. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:745-755. [PMID: 34608277 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00559-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a small cyclic peptide expressed in all mammals, mainly in the hypothalamus. MCH acts as a robust integrator of several physiological functions and has crucial roles in the regulation of sleep-wake rhythms, feeding behaviour and metabolism. MCH signalling has a very broad endocrine context and is involved in physiological functions and emotional states associated with metabolism, such as reproduction, anxiety, depression, sleep and circadian rhythms. MCH mediates its functions through two receptors (MCHR1 and MCHR2), of which only MCHR1 is common to all mammals. Owing to the wide variety of MCH downstream signalling pathways, MCHR1 agonists and antagonists have great potential as tools for the directed management of energy balance disorders and associated metabolic complications, and translational strategies using these compounds hold promise for the development of novel treatments for obesity. This Review provides an overview of the numerous roles of MCH in energy and glucose homeostasis, as well as in regulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuits that encode the hedonic component of food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Al-Massadi
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS/SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Carlos Dieguez
- CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Marc Schneeberger
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miguel López
- CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Markus Schwaninger
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Vincent Prevot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, UMR-S1172, EGID, Lille, France
| | - Ruben Nogueiras
- CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Galician Agency of Innovation (GAIN), Xunta de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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22
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Izawa S, Yoneshiro T, Kondoh K, Nakagiri S, Okamatsu-Ogura Y, Terao A, Minokoshi Y, Yamanaka A, Kimura K. Melanin-concentrating hormone-producing neurons in the hypothalamus regulate brown adipose tissue and thus contribute to energy expenditure. J Physiol 2021; 600:815-827. [PMID: 33899241 DOI: 10.1113/jp281241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neuron-ablated mice exhibit increased energy expenditure and reduced fat weight. Increased brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and locomotor activity-independent energy expenditure contributed to body weight reduction in MCH neuron-ablated mice. MCH neurons send inhibitory input to the medullary raphe nucleus to modulate BAT activity. ABSTRACT Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) peptide robustly affects energy homeostasis. However, it is unclear whether and how MCH-producing neurons, which contain and release a variety of neuropeptides/transmitters, regulate energy expenditure in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. We thus examined the regulation of energy expenditure by MCH neurons, focusing on interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity. MCH neuron-ablated mice exhibited reduced body weight, increased oxygen consumption, and increased BAT activity, which improved locomotor activity-independent energy expenditure. Trans-neuronal retrograde tracing with the recombinant pseudorabies virus revealed that MCH neurons innervate BAT via the sympathetic premotor region in the medullary raphe nucleus (MRN). MRN neurons were activated by MCH neuron ablation. Therefore, endogenous MCH neuron activity negatively modulates energy expenditure via BAT inhibition. MRN neurons might receive inhibitory input from MCH neurons to suppress BAT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuntaro Izawa
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.,Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.,JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, Tokyo, 102-0083, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yoneshiro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.,Division of Metabolic Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Kunio Kondoh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shohei Nakagiri
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Yuko Okamatsu-Ogura
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Akira Terao
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.,Department of Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Tokai University, Sapporo, 005-8601, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Minokoshi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.,Department of Neural Regulation, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kimura
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan
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23
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Lord MN, Subramanian K, Kanoski SE, Noble EE. Melanin-concentrating hormone and food intake control: Sites of action, peptide interactions, and appetition. Peptides 2021; 137:170476. [PMID: 33370567 PMCID: PMC8025943 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Given the increased prevalence of obesity and its associated comorbidities, understanding the mechanisms through which the brain regulates energy balance is of critical importance. The neuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is produced in the lateral hypothalamic area and the adjacent incerto-hypothalamic area and promotes both food intake and energy conservation, overall contributing to body weight gain. Decades of research into this system has provided insight into the neural pathways and mechanisms (behavioral and neurobiological) through which MCH stimulates food intake. Recent technological advancements that allow for selective manipulation of MCH neuron activity have elucidated novel mechanisms of action for the hyperphagic effects of MCH, implicating neural "volume" transmission in the cerebrospinal fluid and sex-specific effects of MCH on food intake control as understudied areas for future investigation. Highlighted here are historical and recent findings that illuminate the neurobiological mechanisms through which MCH promotes food intake, including the identification of various specific neural signaling pathways and interactions with other peptide systems. We conclude with a framework that the hyperphagic effects of MCH signaling are predominantly mediated through enhancement of an "appetition" process in which early postoral prandial signals promote further caloric consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magen N Lord
- Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30606, USA
| | - Keshav Subramanian
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Scott E Kanoski
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Emily E Noble
- Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30606, USA.
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24
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Beekly BG, Frankel WC, Berg T, Allen SJ, Garcia-Galiano D, Vanini G, Elias CF. Dissociated Pmch and Cre Expression in Lactating Pmch-Cre BAC Transgenic Mice. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:60. [PMID: 32982701 PMCID: PMC7475711 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) system plays a role in many physiological processes including reproduction and lactation. However, research regarding the function of MCH on different aspects of the reproductive function lags, due in part to a lack of validated genetic models with which to interrogate the system. This is particularly true in the case of female reproduction, as the anatomy and function of the MCH system is not well-characterized in the female mouse. We set out to determine whether the commercially available Pmch-Cre transgenic mouse line is a viable model to study the role of MCH neurons in distinct female reproductive states. We found that Pmch is transiently expressed in several nuclei of the rostral forebrain at the end of lactation. This includes the medial subdivision of the medial preoptic nucleus, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, the ventral subdivision of the lateral septum, the anterodorsal preoptic nucleus and the anterodorsal nucleus of the thalamus. The Pmch expression in these sites, however, does not reliably induce Cre expression in the Pmch-Cre (BAC) transgenic mouse, making this line an inadequate model with which to study the role of MCH in behavioral and/or neuroendocrine adaptations of lactation. We also contribute to the general knowledge of the anatomy of the murine MCH system by showing that lactation-induced Pmch expression in the rostral forebrain is mostly observed in GABAergic (VGAT) neurons, in contrast to the typical MCH neurons of the tuberal and posterior hypothalamus which are glutamatergic (VGLUT2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany G Beekly
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - William C Frankel
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Tova Berg
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Susan J Allen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - David Garcia-Galiano
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Giancarlo Vanini
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Carol F Elias
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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25
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Morganstern I, Gulati G, Leibowitz SF. Role of melanin-concentrating hormone in drug use disorders. Brain Res 2020; 1741:146872. [PMID: 32360868 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide primarily transcribed in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), with vast projections to many areas throughout the central nervous system that play an important role in motivated behaviors and drug use. Anatomical, pharmacological and genetic studies implicate MCH in mediating the intake and reinforcement of commonly abused substances, acting by influencing several systems including the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, glutamatergic as well as GABAergic signaling and being modulated by inflammatory neuroimmune pathways. Further support for the role of MCH in controlling behavior related to drug use will be discussed as it relates to cerebral ventricular volume transmission and intracellular molecules including cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide, dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 32 kDa. The primary goal of this review is to introduce and summarize current literature surrounding the role of MCH in mediating the intake and reinforcement of commonly abused drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine and opiates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gazal Gulati
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sarah F Leibowitz
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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26
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Fakhoury M, Salman I, Najjar W, Merhej G, Lawand N. The Lateral Hypothalamus: An Uncharted Territory for Processing Peripheral Neurogenic Inflammation. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:101. [PMID: 32116534 PMCID: PMC7029733 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles of the hypothalamus and particularly the lateral hypothalamus (LH) in the regulation of inflammation and pain have been widely studied. The LH consists of a parasympathetic area that has connections with all the major parts of the brain. It controls the autonomic nervous system (ANS), regulates feeding behavior and wakeful cycles, and is a part of the reward system. In addition, it contains different types of neurons, most importantly the orexin neurons. These neurons, though few in number, perform critical functions such as inhibiting pain transmission and interfering with the reward system, feeding behavior and the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA). Recent evidence has identified a new role for orexin neurons in the modulation of pain transmission associated with several inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Here, we review recent findings on the various physiological functions of the LH with special emphasis on the orexin/receptor system and its role in mediating inflammatory pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fakhoury
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Israa Salman
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Wassim Najjar
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - George Merhej
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nada Lawand
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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27
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Negishi K, Payant MA, Schumacker KS, Wittmann G, Butler RM, Lechan RM, Steinbusch HWM, Khan AM, Chee MJ. Distributions of hypothalamic neuron populations coexpressing tyrosine hydroxylase and the vesicular GABA transporter in the mouse. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:1833-1855. [PMID: 31950494 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamus contains catecholaminergic neurons marked by the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). As multiple chemical messengers coexist in each neuron, we determined if hypothalamic TH-immunoreactive (ir) neurons express vesicular glutamate or GABA transporters. We used Cre/loxP recombination to express enhanced GFP (EGFP) in neurons expressing the vesicular glutamate (vGLUT2) or GABA transporter (vGAT), then determined whether TH-ir neurons colocalized with native EGFPVglut2 - or EGFPVgat -fluorescence, respectively. EGFPVglut2 neurons were not TH-ir. However, discrete TH-ir signals colocalized with EGFPVgat neurons, which we validated by in situ hybridization for Vgat mRNA. To contextualize the observed pattern of colocalization between TH-ir and EGFPVgat , we first performed Nissl-based parcellation and plane-of-section analysis, and then mapped the distribution of TH-ir EGFPVgat neurons onto atlas templates from the Allen Reference Atlas (ARA) for the mouse brain. TH-ir EGFPVgat neurons were distributed throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the hypothalamus. Within the ARA ontology of gray matter regions, TH-ir neurons localized primarily to the periventricular hypothalamic zone, periventricular hypothalamic region, and lateral hypothalamic zone. There was a strong presence of EGFPVgat fluorescence in TH-ir neurons across all brain regions, but the most striking colocalization was found in a circumscribed portion of the zona incerta (ZI)-a region assigned to the hypothalamus in the ARA-where every TH-ir neuron expressed EGFPVgat . Neurochemical characterization of these ZI neurons revealed that they display immunoreactivity for dopamine but not dopamine β-hydroxylase. Collectively, these findings indicate the existence of a novel mouse hypothalamic population that may signal through the release of GABA and/or dopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichiro Negishi
- UTEP Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
| | - Mikayla A Payant
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kayla S Schumacker
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabor Wittmann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rebecca M Butler
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ronald M Lechan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Harry W M Steinbusch
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Section Cellular Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Arshad M Khan
- UTEP Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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28
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Dilsiz P, Aklan I, Sayar Atasoy N, Yavuz Y, Filiz G, Koksalar F, Ates T, Oncul M, Coban I, Ates Oz E, Cebecioglu U, Alp MI, Yilmaz B, Atasoy D. MCH Neuron Activity Is Sufficient for Reward and Reinforces Feeding. Neuroendocrinology 2020; 110:258-270. [PMID: 31154452 DOI: 10.1159/000501234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-expressing neurons have been implicated in regulation of energy homeostasis and reward, yet the role of their electrical activity in short-term appetite and reward modulation has not been fully understood. OBJECTIVES We investigated short-term behavioral and physiological effects of MCH neuron activity manipulations. METHODS We used optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches in Pmch-cre transgenic mice to acutely stimulate/inhibit MCH neuronal activity while probing feeding, locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviors, glucose homeostasis, and reward. RESULTS MCH neuron activity is neither required nor sufficient for short-term appetite unless stimulation is temporally paired with consumption. MCH neuronal activation does not affect short-term locomotor activity, but inhibition improves glucose tolerance and is mildly anxiolytic. Finally, using two different operant tasks, we showed that activation of MCH neurons alone is sufficient to induce reward. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm diverse behavioral/physiological functions of MCH neurons and suggest a direct role in reward function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pelin Dilsiz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Iltan Aklan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Nilufer Sayar Atasoy
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Yavuz Yavuz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gizem Filiz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fulya Koksalar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tayfun Ates
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Merve Oncul
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ilknur Coban
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Edanur Ates Oz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Utku Cebecioglu
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Ikbal Alp
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bayram Yilmaz
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey,
- Department of Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA,
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29
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AY O, OI O, FO Y, AM A, IO A, OJ O. Oral Monosodium Glutamate Differentially Affects Open-Field Behaviours, Behavioural Despair and Place Preference in Male and Female Mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/2211556008666181213160527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer which induces
behavioural changes in animals. However the influence of sex on the behavioural response
to MSG has not been investigated.
Objective:
The sex-differential effects of MSG on open-field behaviours, anxiety-related
behaviour, behavioural despair, place-preference, and plasma/brain glutamate levels in
adult mice were assessed.
Methods:
Mice were assigned to three groups (1-3), based on the models used to assess
behaviours. Animals in group 1 were for the elevated-plus maze and tail-suspension paradigms,
group 2 for the open-field and forced-swim paradigms, while mice in group 3 were
for observation in the conditioned place preference paradigm. Mice in all groups were further
assigned into five subgroups (10 males and 10 females), and administered vehicle (distilled
water at 10 ml/kg) or one of four doses of MSG (20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) daily for
6 weeks, following which they were exposed to the behavioural paradigms. At the end of
the behavioural tests, the animals were sacrificed, and blood was taken for estimation of
glutamate levels. The brains were also homogenised for estimation of glutamate levels.
Results:
MSG was associated with a reduction in locomotion in males and females (except
at 160 mg/kg, male), an anxiolytic response in females, an anxiogenic response in males,
and decreased behavioural despair in both sexes (females more responsive). Postconditioning
MSG-associated place-preference was significantly higher in females. Plasma/
brain glutamate was not significantly different between sexes.
Conclusion:
Repeated MSG administration alters a range of behaviours in a sex-dependent
manner in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onaolapo AY
- Behavioural Neuroscience/Neurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Olawore OI
- Behavioural Neuroscience/Neurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Yusuf FO
- Behavioural Neuroscience/Neurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Adeyemo AM
- Behavioural Neuroscience/Neurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Adewole IO
- Behavioural Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Onaolapo OJ
- Behavioural Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
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30
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Chee MJ, Hebert AJ, Briançon N, Flaherty SE, Pissios P, Maratos-Flier E. Conditional deletion of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 from GABAergic neurons increases locomotor activity. Mol Metab 2019; 29:114-123. [PMID: 31668382 PMCID: PMC6745487 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) plays a key role in regulating energy balance. MCH acts via its receptor MCHR1, and MCHR1 deletion increases energy expenditure and locomotor activity, which is associated with a hyperdopaminergic state. Since MCHR1 expression is widespread, the neurons supporting the effects of MCH on energy expenditure are not clearly defined. There is a high density of MCHR1 neurons in the striatum, and these neurons are known to be GABAergic. We thus determined if MCH acts via this GABAergic neurocircuit to mediate energy balance. Methods We generated a Mchr1-flox mouse and crossed it with the Vgat-cre mouse to assess if MCHR1 deletion from GABAergic neurons expressing the vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) in female Vgat-Mchr1-KO mice resulted in lower body weights or increased energy expenditure. Additionally, we determined if MCHR1-expressing neurons within the accumbens form part of the neural circuit underlying MCH-mediated energy balance by delivering an adeno-associated virus expressing Cre recombinase to the accumbens nucleus of Mchr1-flox mice. To evaluate if a dysregulated dopaminergic tone leads to their hyperactivity, we determined if the dopamine reuptake blocker GBR12909 prolonged the drug-induced locomotor activity in Vgat-Mchr1-KO mice. Furthermore, we also performed amperometry recordings to test whether MCHR1 deletion increases dopamine output within the accumbens and whether MCH can suppress dopamine release. Results Vgat-Mchr1-KO mice have lower body weight, increased energy expenditure, and increased locomotor activity. Similarly, restricting MCHR1 deletion to the accumbens nucleus also increased locomotor activity. Vgat-Mchr1-KO mice show increased and prolonged sensitivity to GBR12909-induced locomotor activity, and amperometry recordings revealed that GBR12909 elevated accumbens dopamine levels to twice that of controls, thus MCHR1 deletion may lead to a hyperdopaminergic state that mediates their observed hyperactivity. Consistent with the inhibitory effect of MCH, we found that MCH acutely suppresses dopamine release within the accumbens. Conclusions As with established models of systemic MCH or MCHR1 deletion, we found that MCHR1 deletion from GABAergic neurons, specifically those within the accumbens nucleus, also led to increased locomotor activity. A hyperdopaminergic state underlies this increased locomotor activity, and is consistent with our finding that MCH signaling within the accumbens nucleus suppresses dopamine release. In effect, MCHR1 deletion may disinhibit dopamine release leading to the observed hyperactivity. Generation of Mchr1-flox mouse enabled cre-mediated deletion of Mchr1. Mchr1 deletion at GABAergic neurons decreased body weight. Mchr1 deletion at GABAergic neurons increased locomotor activity. Mchr1 deletion increased dopaminergic tone in the mesolimbic accumbens circuitry. MCH suppressed dopamine release in the accumbens nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Alex J Hebert
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nadege Briançon
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen E Flaherty
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pavlos Pissios
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eleftheria Maratos-Flier
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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31
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Cassidy RM, Lu Y, Jere M, Tian JB, Xu Y, Mangieri LR, Felix-Okoroji B, Selever J, Xu Y, Arenkiel BR, Tong Q. A lateral hypothalamus to basal forebrain neurocircuit promotes feeding by suppressing responses to anxiogenic environmental cues. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav1640. [PMID: 30854429 PMCID: PMC6402846 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav1640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Animals must consider competing information before deciding to eat: internal signals indicating the desirability of food and external signals indicating the risk involved in eating within a particular environment. The behaviors driven by the former are manifestations of hunger, and the latter, anxiety. The connection between pathologic anxiety and reduced eating in conditions like typical depression and anorexia is well known. Conversely, anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines increase appetite. Here, we show that GABAergic neurons in the diagonal band of Broca (DBBGABA) are responsive to indications of risk and receive monosynaptic inhibitory input from lateral hypothalamus GABAergic neurons (LHGABA). Activation of this circuit reduces anxiety and causes indiscriminate feeding. We also found that diazepam rapidly reduces DBBGABA activity while inducing indiscriminate feeding. Our study reveals that the LHGABA→DBBGABA neurocircuit overrides anxiogenic environmental cues to allow feeding and that this pathway may underlie the link between eating and anxiety-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M. Cassidy
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 7000 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MSTP, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School and MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 6767 Bertner Avenue S3.8344 Mitchell BSRB, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Neuroscience Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 6767 Bertner Avenue S3.8344 Mitchell BSRB, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yungang Lu
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 7000 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Madhavi Jere
- Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Jin-Bin Tian
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 7000 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030-1892, USA
| | - Yuanzhong Xu
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 7000 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leandra R. Mangieri
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 7000 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Neuroscience Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 6767 Bertner Avenue S3.8344 Mitchell BSRB, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Selever
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Neuroconnectivity Core, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, S640, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yong Xu
- Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin R. Arenkiel
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Neuroconnectivity Core, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, S640, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Qingchun Tong
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 7000 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Neuroscience Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 6767 Bertner Avenue S3.8344 Mitchell BSRB, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St., Suite MSB 7.046 Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Corresponding author.
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32
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Arrigoni E, Chee MJS, Fuller PM. To eat or to sleep: That is a lateral hypothalamic question. Neuropharmacology 2018; 154:34-49. [PMID: 30503993 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is a functionally and anatomically complex brain region that is involved in the regulation of many behavioral and physiological processes including feeding, arousal, energy balance, stress, reward and motivated behaviors, pain perception, body temperature regulation, digestive functions and blood pressure. Despite noteworthy experimental efforts over the past decades, the circuit, cellular and synaptic bases by which these different processes are regulated by the LH remains incompletely understood. This knowledge gap links in large part to the high cellular heterogeneity of the LH. Fortunately, the rapid evolution of newer genetic and electrophysiological tools is now permitting the selective manipulation, typically genetically-driven, of discrete LH cell populations. This, in turn, permits not only assignment of function to discrete cell groups, but also reveals that considerable synergistic and antagonistic interactions exist between key LH cell populations that regulate feeding and arousal. For example, we now know that while LH melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and orexin/hypocretin neurons both function as sensors of the internal metabolic environment, their roles regulating sleep and arousal are actually opposing. Additional studies have uncovered similarly important roles for subpopulations of LH GABAergic cells in the regulation of both feeding and arousal. Herein we review the role of LH MCH, orexin/hypocretin and GABAergic cell populations in the regulation of energy homeostasis (including feeding) and sleep-wake and discuss how these three cell populations, and their subpopulations, may interact to optimize and coordinate metabolism, sleep and arousal. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Hypothalamic Control of Homeostasis'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elda Arrigoni
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Melissa J S Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Patrick M Fuller
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Naganuma F, Bandaru SS, Absi G, Chee MJ, Vetrivelan R. Melanin-concentrating hormone neurons promote rapid eye movement sleep independent of glutamate release. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 224:99-110. [PMID: 30284033 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1766-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Neurons containing melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the posterior lateral hypothalamus play an integral role in rapid eye movement sleep (REMs) regulation. As MCH neurons also contain a variety of other neuropeptides [e.g., cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and nesfatin-1] and neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate), the specific neurotransmitter responsible for REMs regulation is not known. We hypothesized that glutamate, the primary fast-acting neurotransmitter in MCH neurons, is necessary for REMs regulation. To test this hypothesis, we deleted vesicular glutamate transporter (Vglut2; necessary for synaptic release of glutamate) specifically from MCH neurons by crossing MCH-Cre mice (expressing Cre recombinase in MCH neurons) with Vglut2flox/flox mice (expressing LoxP-modified alleles of Vglut2), and studied the amounts, architecture and diurnal variation of sleep-wake states during baseline conditions. We then activated the MCH neurons lacking glutamate neurotransmission using chemogenetic methods and tested whether these MCH neurons still promoted REMs. Our results indicate that glutamate in MCH neurons contributes to normal diurnal variability of REMs by regulating the levels of REMs during the dark period, but MCH neurons can promote REMs even in the absence of glutamate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumito Naganuma
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Center for Life Science # 717, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 1-15-1, Fukumuro, Miyagino-ku, Sendai, 983-8536, Japan
| | - Sathyajit S Bandaru
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Center for Life Science # 717, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Gianna Absi
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Center for Life Science # 717, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Melissa J Chee
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Ramalingam Vetrivelan
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Center for Life Science # 717, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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