1
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Montalban E, Giralt A, Taing L, Nakamura Y, Pelosi A, Brown M, de Pins B, Valjent E, Martin M, Nairn AC, Greengard P, Flajolet M, Hervé D, Gambardella N, Roussarie JP, Girault JA. Operant Training for Highly Palatable Food Alters Translating Messenger RNA in Nucleus Accumbens D 2 Neurons and Reveals a Modulatory Role of Ncdn. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:926-937. [PMID: 37579933 PMCID: PMC11059129 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Highly palatable food triggers behavioral responses including strong motivation. These effects involve the reward system and dopamine neurons, which modulate neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The molecular mechanisms underlying the long-lasting effects of highly palatable food on feeding behavior are poorly understood. METHODS We studied the effects of 2-week operant conditioning of mice with standard or isocaloric highly palatable food. We investigated the behavioral responses and dendritic spine modifications in the NAc. We compared the translating messenger RNA in NAc neurons identified by the type of dopamine receptors they express, depending on the kind of food and training. We tested the consequences of invalidation of an abundant downregulated gene, Ncdn. RESULTS Operant conditioning for highly palatable food increased motivation for food even in well-fed mice. In wild-type mice, free choice between regular and highly palatable food increased weight compared with access to regular food only. Highly palatable food increased spine density in the NAc. In animals trained for highly palatable food, translating messenger RNAs were modified in NAc neurons expressing dopamine D2 receptors, mostly corresponding to striatal projection neurons, but not in neurons expressing D1 receptors. Knockout of Ncdn, an abundant downregulated gene, opposed the conditioning-induced changes in satiety-sensitive feeding behavior and apparent motivation for highly palatable food, suggesting that downregulation may be a compensatory mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Our results emphasize the importance of messenger RNA alterations in D2 striatal projection neurons in the NAc in the behavioral consequences of highly palatable food conditioning and suggest a modulatory contribution of Ncdn downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Montalban
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France.
| | - Albert Giralt
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Lieng Taing
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Yuki Nakamura
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Assunta Pelosi
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Mallory Brown
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Benoit de Pins
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Valjent
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, France
| | - Miquel Martin
- Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Unitat de Nutrició i Salut, Reus, Spain; Instituto de investigaciones médicas Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angus C Nairn
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Paul Greengard
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Marc Flajolet
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Denis Hervé
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Roussarie
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Jean-Antoine Girault
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unite Mixte de Recherche-S 1270, Paris, France; Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France.
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Brown RM, Ch'ng SS, Davis CC. Why did I eat that? Understanding the 'why' of compulsive behaviour towards food. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110803. [PMID: 37245584 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
| | - Sarah S Ch'ng
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Caroline C Davis
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Huerta-Canseco C, Caba M, Camacho-Morales A. Obesity-mediated Lipoinflammation Modulates Food Reward Responses. Neuroscience 2023; 529:37-53. [PMID: 37591331 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.08.019] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) during obesity is associated with the development of chronic low-grade inflammation, a biological process known as lipoinflammation. Systemic and central lipoinflammation accumulates pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in plasma and also in brain, disrupting neurometabolism and cognitive behavior. Obesity-mediated lipoinflammation has been reported in brain regions of the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit leading to alterations in the perception and consumption of ultra-processed foods. While still under investigation, lipoinflammation targets two major outcomes of the mesocorticolimbic circuit during food reward: perception and motivation ("Wanting") and the pleasurable feeling of feeding ("Liking"). This review will provide experimental and clinical evidence supporting the contribution of obesity- or overnutrition-related lipoinflammation affecting the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and enhancing food reward responses. We will also address neuroanatomical targets of inflammatory profiles that modulate food reward responses during obesity and describe potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of overnutrition linked to addiction-like behavior favored by brain lipoinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mario Caba
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Alberto Camacho-Morales
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, NL, Mexico; Neurometabolism Unit, Center for Research and Development in Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
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Cui X, Tong Q, Xu H, Xie C, Xiao L. A putative loop connection between VTA dopamine neurons and nucleus accumbens encodes positive valence to compensate for hunger. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 229:102503. [PMID: 37451329 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) signal play pivotal roles in regulating motivated behaviors, including feeding behavior, but the role of midbrain DA neurons in modulating food intake and neural circuitry mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we found that activating but not inhibiting ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons reduces mouse food intake. Furthermore, DA neurons in ventral VTA, especially neurons projecting to the medial nucleus accumbens (NAc), are activated by refeeding in the 24 h fasted mice. Combing neural circuitry tracing, optogenetic, chemogenetic, and pharmacological manipulations, we established that the VTA→medial NAc→VTA loop circuit is critical for the VTA DA neurons activation-induced food intake reduction. Moreover, activating either VTA DA neurons or dopaminergic axons in medial NAc elevates positive valence, which will compensate for the hungry-induced food intake. Thus, our study identifies a subset of positive valence-encoded VTA DA neurons forming possible loop connections with medial NAc that are anorexigenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Cui
- Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiuping Tong
- Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chuantong Xie
- Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lei Xiao
- Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Matikainen-Ankney BA, Legaria AA, Pan Y, Vachez YM, Murphy CA, Schaefer RF, McGrath QJ, Wang JG, Bluitt MN, Ankney KC, Norris AJ, Creed MC, Kravitz AV. Nucleus Accumbens D 1 Receptor-Expressing Spiny Projection Neurons Control Food Motivation and Obesity. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:512-523. [PMID: 36494220 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a chronic relapsing disorder that is caused by an excess of caloric intake relative to energy expenditure. There is growing recognition that food motivation is altered in people with obesity. However, it remains unclear how brain circuits that control food motivation are altered in obese animals. METHODS Using a novel behavioral assay that quantifies work during food seeking, in vivo and ex vivo cell-specific recordings, and a synaptic blocking technique, we tested the hypothesis that activity of circuits promoting appetitive behavior in the core of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is enhanced in the obese state, particularly during food seeking. RESULTS We first confirmed that mice made obese with ad libitum exposure to a high fat diet work harder than lean mice to obtain food, consistent with an increase in food motivation in obese mice. We observed greater activation of D1 receptor-expressing NAc spiny projection neurons (NAc D1SPNs) during food seeking in obese mice relative to lean mice. This enhanced activity was not observed in D2 receptor-expressing neurons (D2SPNs). Consistent with these in vivo findings, both intrinsic excitability and excitatory drive onto D1SPNs were enhanced in obese mice relative to lean mice, and these measures were selective for D1SPNs. Finally, blocking synaptic transmission from D1SPNs, but not D2SPNs, in the NAc core decreased physical work during food seeking and, critically, attenuated high fat diet-induced weight gain. CONCLUSIONS These experiments demonstrate the necessity of NAc core D1SPNs in food motivation and the development of diet-induced obesity, establishing these neurons as a potential therapeutic target for preventing obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex A Legaria
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yiyan Pan
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yvan M Vachez
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Caitlin A Murphy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Robert F Schaefer
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Quinlan J McGrath
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Justin G Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Maya N Bluitt
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kevin C Ankney
- Department of Economics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Aaron J Norris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Meaghan C Creed
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
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Montalban E, Giralt A, Taing L, Nakamura Y, Pelosi A, Brown M, de Pins B, Valjent E, Martin M, Nairn AC, Greengard P, Flajolet M, Herv D, Gambardella N, Roussarie JP, Girault JA. Operant training for highly palatable food alters translating mRNA in nucleus accumbens D2 neurons and reveals a modulatory role of Neurochondrin. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.07.531496. [PMID: 36945487 PMCID: PMC10028890 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.07.531496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Highly palatable food triggers behavioral alterations reminiscent of those induced by addictive drugs. These effects involve the reward system and dopamine neurons, which modulate neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of highly palatable food on feeding behavior are poorly understood. METHODS We studied the effects of 2-week operant conditioning of mice with standard or isocaloric highly palatable food. We investigated the behavioral effects and dendritic spine modifications in the NAc. We compared the translating mRNA in NAc neurons identified by the type of dopamine receptors they express, depending on the type of food and training. We tested the consequences of invalidation of an abundant downregulated gene, Ncdn (Neurochondrin). RESULTS Operant conditioning for highly palatable food increases motivation for food even in well-fed mice. In control mice, free access to regular or highly palatable food results in increased weight as compared to regular food only. Highly palatable food increases spine density in the NAc. In animals trained for highly palatable food, translating mRNAs are modified in NAc dopamine D2-receptor-expressing neurons, mostly corresponding to striatal projection neurons, but not in those expressing D1-receptors. Knock-out of Ncdn, an abundant down-regulated gene, opposes the conditioning-induced changes in satiety-sensitive feeding behavior and apparent motivation for highly palatable food, suggesting down-regulation may be a compensatory mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Our results emphasize the importance of mRNA alterations D2 striatal projection neurons in the NAc in the behavioral consequences of highly palatable food conditioning and suggest a modulatory contribution of Ncdn downregulation.
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Shi Y, Wang M, Xiao L, Gui L, Zheng W, Bai L, Su B, Li B, Xu Y, Pan W, Zhang J, Wang W. Potential therapeutic mechanism of deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 16:1057887. [PMID: 36687525 PMCID: PMC9845878 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1057887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) (NAc-DBS) is an effective solution to refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, evidence for the neurobiological mechanisms of OCD and the effect of NAc-DBS is still lacking. One hypothesis is that the electrophysiological activities in the NAc are modulated by DBS, and another hypothesis is that the activities of neurotransmitters in the NAc are influenced by DBS. To investigate these potential alterations, rats with quinpirole (QNP)- induced OCD were treated with DBS of the core part of NAc. Then, extracellular spikes (SPK) and local field potentials (LFP) in the NAc were recorded, and the levels of relevant neurotransmitters and related proteins were measured. Analysis of SPK revealed that the firing rate was decreased and the firing pattern was changed after NAc-DBS, and analysis of LFP showed that overall power spectral density (PSD) levels were reduced after NAc-DBS. Additionally, we found that the relative powers of the theta band, alpha band and beta band were increased in OCD status, while the relative powers of the delta band and gamma band were decreased. This pathological pattern of power distribution was reformed by NAc-DBS. Furthermore, we found that the local levels of monoamines [dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT)] and amino acids [glutamate (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] in the NAc were increased in OCD status, and that the expression of the two types of DA receptors in the NAc exhibited an opposite change. These abnormalities could be reversed by NAc-DBS. These findings provide a more comprehensive understanding about the function of the NAc in the pathophysiology of OCD and provide more detailed evidence for the potential effect of NAc-DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mengqi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Linglong Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Luolan Gui
- Laboratory of Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Zheng
- Laboratory of Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Bai
- Histology and Imaging Platform, Core Facilities of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Su
- Histology and Imaging Platform, Core Facilities of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bin Li
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yangyang Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Histology and Imaging Platform, Core Facilities of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,*Correspondence: Wei Wang,
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Shin S, You IJ, Jeong M, Bae Y, Wang XY, Cawley ML, Han A, Lim BK. Early adversity promotes binge-like eating habits by remodeling a leptin-responsive lateral hypothalamus-brainstem pathway. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:79-91. [PMID: 36510113 PMCID: PMC9829538 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01208-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early-life trauma (ELT) is a risk factor for binge eating and obesity later in life, yet the neural circuits that underlie this association have not been addressed. Here, we show in mice that downregulation of the leptin receptor (Lepr) in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and its effect on neural activity is crucial in causing ELT-induced binge-like eating and obesity upon high-fat diet exposure. We also found that the increased activity of Lepr-expressing LH (LHLepr) neurons encodes sustained binge-like eating in ELT mice. Inhibition of LHLepr neurons projecting to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray normalizes these behavioral features of ELT mice. Furthermore, activation of proenkephalin-expressing ventrolateral periaqueductal gray neurons, which receive inhibitory inputs from LHLepr neurons, rescues ELT-induced maladaptive eating habits. Our results identify a circuit pathway that mediates ELT-induced maladaptive eating and may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for binge eating and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sora Shin
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - In-Jee You
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Minju Jeong
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yeeun Bae
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Xiao-Yun Wang
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mikel Leann Cawley
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Abraham Han
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Byung Kook Lim
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Wang X, Li H. Chronic high-fat diet induces overeating and impairs synaptic transmission in feeding-related brain regions. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1019446. [PMID: 36226318 PMCID: PMC9549200 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1019446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is linked to overeating, which can exacerbate unhealthy weight gain. However, the mechanisms for mediating such linkages are elusive. In the current study, we hypothesized that synaptic remodeling occurs in feeding-related brain regions of obese mice. To investigate this, we established a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model and observed that these mice consumed excessive calories. The effect of chronic HFD feeding on lipid droplet accumulation in different brain structures was also investigated. We found that lipid droplets accumulated on the ependyma of the third ventricle (3V), which is surrounded by key areas of the hypothalamus that are involved in feeding. Then, the spontaneous synaptic activity of miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSC) was recorded in these hypothalamic areas. HFD induced a decreased amplitude of mEPSC in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), meanwhile, increased the frequency in the VMH. In addition, HFD reduced the frequency of mIPSC in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and increased the amplitude of mIPSC in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH). Subsequently, we also measured the synaptic activity of nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons, which play a vital role in the hedonic aspect of eating, and discovered that HFD diminished the frequency of both mEPSC and mIPSC in the NAc. These findings suggest that chronic HFD feeding leads to lipid accumulation and synaptic dysfunction in specific brain regions, which are associated with energy homeostasis and reward regulation, and these impairments may lead to the overeating of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Ministry of Education (MoE) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Xu Wang,
| | - Haohong Li
- Affiliated Mental Health Centre and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- The Ministry of Education (MoE) Frontier Research Center of Brain and Brain-machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Haohong Li,
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