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Shankar K, Bonnet-Zahedi S, Milan K, D'argence AR, Sneddon E, Qiao R, Chonwattangul S, Carrette LLG, Kallupi M, George O. Acute nicotine activates orectic and inhibits anorectic brain regions in rats exposed to chronic nicotine. Neuropharmacology 2024; 253:109959. [PMID: 38648925 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109959] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Nicotine use produces psychoactive effects, and chronic use is associated with physiological and psychological symptoms of addiction. However, chronic nicotine use is known to decrease food intake and body weight gain, suggesting that nicotine also affects central metabolic and appetite regulation. We recently showed that acute nicotine self-administration in nicotine-dependent animals produces a short-term increase in food intake, contrary to its long-term decrease of feeding behavior. As feeding behavior is regulated by complex neural signaling mechanisms, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that nicotine intake in animals exposed to chronic nicotine may increase activation of pro-feeding regions and decrease activation of pro-satiety regions to produce the acute increase in feeding behavior. FOS immunohistochemistry revealed that acute nicotine intake in nicotine self-administering animals increased activation of the pro-feeding arcuate and lateral hypothalamic nuclei and decreased activation of the pro-satiety parabrachial nucleus. Regional correlational analysis also showed that acute nicotine changes the functional connectivity of the hunger/satiety network. Further dissection of the role of the arcuate nucleus using electrophysiology found that putative POMC neurons in animals given chronic nicotine exhibited decreased firing following acute nicotine application. These brain-wide central signaling changes may contribute to the acute increase in feeding behavior we see in rats after acute nicotine and provide new areas of focus for studying both nicotine addiction and metabolic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kokila Shankar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Sélène Bonnet-Zahedi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Kristel Milan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Andrea Ruiz D'argence
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sneddon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ran Qiao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Supakorn Chonwattangul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Lieselot L G Carrette
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Marsida Kallupi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Sotelo-Hitschfeld T, Minère M, Klemm P, Borgmann D, Wnuk-Lipinski D, Jais A, Jia X, Corneliussen S, Kloppenburg P, Fenselau H, Brüning JC. GABAergic disinhibition from the BNST to PNOC ARC neurons promotes HFD-induced hyperphagia. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114343. [PMID: 38865247 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114343] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Activation of prepronociceptin (PNOC)-expressing neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) promotes high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hyperphagia. In turn, PNOCARC neurons can inhibit the anorexic response of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. Here, we validate the necessity of PNOCARC activity for HFD-induced inhibition of POMC neurons in mice and find that PNOCARC-neuron-dependent inhibition of POMC neurons is mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release. When monitoring individual PNOCARC neuron activity via Ca2+ imaging, we find a subpopulation of PNOCARC neurons that is inhibited upon gastrointestinal calorie sensing and disinhibited upon HFD feeding. Combining retrograde rabies tracing and circuit mapping, we find that PNOC neurons from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (PNOCBNST) provide inhibitory input to PNOCARC neurons, and this inhibitory input is blunted upon HFD feeding. This work sheds light on how an increase in caloric content of the diet can rewire a neuronal circuit, paving the way to overconsumption and obesity development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Sotelo-Hitschfeld
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Marielle Minère
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Paul Klemm
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Diba Borgmann
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daria Wnuk-Lipinski
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Jais
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Xianglian Jia
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Svenja Corneliussen
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Kloppenburg
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Henning Fenselau
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Jens Claus Brüning
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; National Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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Tan B, Browne CJ, Nöbauer T, Vaziri A, Friedman JM, Nestler EJ. Drugs of abuse hijack a mesolimbic pathway that processes homeostatic need. Science 2024; 384:eadk6742. [PMID: 38669575 PMCID: PMC11077477 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk6742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Drugs of abuse are thought to promote addiction in part by "hijacking" brain reward systems, but the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Using whole-brain FOS mapping and in vivo single-neuron calcium imaging, we found that drugs of abuse augment dopaminoceptive ensemble activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and disorganize overlapping ensemble responses to natural rewards in a cell type-specific manner. Combining FOS-Seq, CRISPR-perturbation, and single-nucleus RNA sequencing, we identified Rheb as a molecular substrate that regulates cell type-specific signal transduction in NAc while enabling drugs to suppress natural reward consumption. Mapping NAc-projecting regions activated by drugs of abuse revealed input-specific effects on natural reward consumption. These findings characterize the dynamic, molecular and circuit basis of a common reward pathway, wherein drugs of abuse interfere with the fulfillment of innate needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University; New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Caleb J. Browne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY 10029, USA
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Tobias Nöbauer
- Laboratory of Neurotechnology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University; New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alipasha Vaziri
- Laboratory of Neurotechnology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University; New York, NY 10065, USA
- The Kavli Neural Systems Institute, The Rockefeller University; New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Friedman
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University; New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY 10029, USA
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Lavoie O, Turmel A, Mattoon P, Desrosiers WJ, Plamondon J, Michael NJ, Caron A. Hypothalamic GABAergic Neurons Expressing Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 1 (CRABP1) Are Sensitive to Metabolic Status and Liraglutide in Male Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38631315 DOI: 10.1159/000538716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Owing to their privileged anatomical location, neurons of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) play critical roles in sensing and responding to metabolic signals such as leptin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). In addition to the well-known proopiomelanocortin (POMC)- and agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-expressing neurons, subpopulations of GABAergic neurons are emerging as key regulators of energy balance. However, the precise identity of these metabolic neurons is still elusive. Here, we identified and characterized the molecular signature of a novel population of GABAergic neurons of the ARC expressing Cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (Crabp1). METHODS Using a combination of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques, we investigated the expression of Crabp1 across the mouse brain and characterized the molecular identity of Crabp1ARC neurons. We also determined whether Crabp1ARC neurons are sensitive to fasting, leptin, and GLP1R agonism by assessing cFOS immunoreactivity as a marker of neuronal activity. RESULTS Crabp1ARC neurons represent a novel GABAergic neuronal population robustly enriched in the ARC and are distinct from the prototypical melanocortin neurons. Crabp1ARC neurons overlap with three subpopulations of yet uncharacterized ARC neurons expressing Htr3b, Tbx19, and Tmem215. Notably, Crabp1ARC neurons express receptors for metabolic hormones and their activity is modulated by the nutritional state and GLP1R agonism. CONCLUSION Crabp1ARC neurons represent a novel heterogeneous population of GABAergic neurons sensitive to metabolic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Lavoie
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Audrey Turmel
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Paige Mattoon
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Julie Plamondon
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Natalie Jane Michael
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandre Caron
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
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5
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Harvey T, Rios M. The Role of BDNF and TrkB in the Central Control of Energy and Glucose Balance: An Update. Biomolecules 2024; 14:424. [PMID: 38672441 PMCID: PMC11048226 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040424] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The global rise in obesity and related health issues, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, is alarming. Gaining a deeper insight into the central neural pathways and mechanisms that regulate energy and glucose homeostasis is crucial for developing effective interventions to combat this debilitating condition. A significant body of evidence from studies in humans and rodents indicates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling plays a key role in regulating feeding, energy expenditure, and glycemic control. BDNF is a highly conserved neurotrophin that signals via the tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor to facilitate neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity and function. Recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms through which BDNF influences energy and glucose balance. This review will cover our current understanding of the brain regions, neural circuits, and cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic actions of BDNF and TrkB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Harvey
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
| | - Maribel Rios
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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6
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Kim EJ, Jeong HS, Kwon E, Jeong SH, Kim JS. Muscle mass and chronic dizziness: a cross-sectional study of a Korean population. J Neurol 2024; 271:1213-1223. [PMID: 37910251 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12014-4] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Weight gain is associated with imbalance in older people. In contrast, overweightness or mild obesity is less common in patients with chronic dizziness. This paradox may be, at least in part, related to differences in the body composition indices adopted in the previous studies. This study aimed to determine any association between the predicted body composition and chronic dizziness or imbalance of unknown causes. METHODS We measured the lean body mass, body fat mass, and appendicular skeletal mass in 9243 people who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2021. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia's guidelines. Obesity was defined as a body fat percentage of ≥ 25% for men and ≥ 35% for women. RESULTS The participants with chronic dizziness had a lower body mass index than those without (p = 0.001). Furthermore, sarcopenia was more common in those with chronic dizziness. In contrast, the degree of obesity was comparable in both groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was associated with a higher risk of chronic dizziness (odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.5; p = 0.026). DISCUSSION Given the association of sarcopenia with chronic dizziness or imbalance, muscle mass may play a role in maintaining balance and stability. Physical exercise could be recommended to increase muscle mass in patients with chronic dizziness/imbalance and sarcopenia. Additional research is required to establish a causal relationship between chronic dizziness and sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Ji Kim
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hye Seon Jeong
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eunjin Kwon
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Seong-Hae Jeong
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, 282 Munhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, 35015, Korea.
| | - Ji-Soo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Dizziness Center, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
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De Solis AJ, Del Río-Martín A, Radermacher J, Chen W, Steuernagel L, Bauder CA, Eggersmann FR, Morgan DA, Cremer AL, Sué M, Germer M, Kukat C, Vollmar S, Backes H, Rahmouni K, Kloppenburg P, Brüning JC. Reciprocal activity of AgRP and POMC neurons governs coordinated control of feeding and metabolism. Nat Metab 2024; 6:473-493. [PMID: 38378998 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-00987-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-expressing and proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons reciprocally regulate food intake. Here, we combine non-interacting recombinases to simultaneously express functionally opposing chemogenetic receptors in AgRP and POMC neurons for comparing metabolic responses in male and female mice with simultaneous activation of AgRP and inhibition of POMC neurons with isolated activation of AgRP neurons or isolated inhibition of POMC neurons. We show that food intake is regulated by the additive effect of AgRP neuron activation and POMC neuron inhibition, while systemic insulin sensitivity and gluconeogenesis are differentially modulated by isolated-versus-simultaneous regulation of AgRP and POMC neurons. We identify a neurocircuit engaging Npy1R-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, where activated AgRP neurons and inhibited POMC neurons cooperate to promote food consumption and activate Th+ neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii. Collectively, these results unveil how food intake is precisely regulated by the simultaneous bidirectional interplay between AgRP and POMC neurocircuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain J De Solis
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Almudena Del Río-Martín
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan Radermacher
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Weiyi Chen
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lukas Steuernagel
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Corinna A Bauder
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fynn R Eggersmann
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Donald A Morgan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Anna-Lena Cremer
- Multimodal Imaging of Brain Metabolism Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Sué
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Maximilian Germer
- FACS & Imaging Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Kukat
- FACS & Imaging Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stefan Vollmar
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Heiko Backes
- Multimodal Imaging of Brain Metabolism Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kamal Rahmouni
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Peter Kloppenburg
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jens C Brüning
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany.
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Policlinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (PEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- National Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany.
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8
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Bachor TP, Hwang E, Yulyaningsih E, Attal K, Mifsud F, Pham V, Vagena E, Huarcaya R, Valdearcos M, Vaisse C, Williams KW, Emmerson PJ, Xu AW. Identification of AgRP cells in the murine hindbrain that drive feeding. Mol Metab 2024; 80:101886. [PMID: 38246589 PMCID: PMC10844855 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101886] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The central melanocortin system is essential for the regulation of food intake and body weight. Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is the sole orexigenic component of the central melanocortin system and is conserved across mammalian species. AgRP is currently known to be expressed exclusively in the mediobasal hypothalamus, and hypothalamic AgRP-expressing neurons are essential for feeding. Here we characterized a previously unknown population of AgRP cells in the mouse hindbrain. METHODS Expression of AgRP in the hindbrain was investigated using gene expression analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescent analysis and multiple transgenic mice with reporter expressions. Activation of AgRP neurons was achieved by Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) and by transcranial focal photo-stimulation using a step-function opsin with ultra-high light sensitivity (SOUL). RESULTS AgRP expressing cells were present in the area postrema (AP) and the adjacent subpostrema area (SubP) and commissural nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) of the mouse hindbrain (termed AgRPHind herein). AgRPHind cells consisted of locally projecting neurons as well as tanycyte-like cells. Food deprivation stimulated hindbrain Agrp expression as well as neuronal activity of subsets of AgRPHind cells. In adult mice that lacked hypothalamic AgRP neurons, chemogenetic activation of AgRP neurons resulted in hyperphagia and weight gain. In addition, transcranial focal photo-stimulation of hindbrain AgRP cells increased food intake in adult mice with or without hypothalamic AgRP neurons. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that the central melanocortin system in the hindbrain possesses an orexigenic component, and that AgRPHind neurons stimulate feeding independently of hypothalamic AgRP neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas P Bachor
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eunsang Hwang
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ernie Yulyaningsih
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kush Attal
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Francois Mifsud
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Viana Pham
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eirini Vagena
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Renzo Huarcaya
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Martin Valdearcos
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christian Vaisse
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin W Williams
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Paul J Emmerson
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Lilly Corporate Center, Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Allison W Xu
- Diabetes Center and Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
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9
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Cola RB, Roccaro-Waldmeyer DM, Naim S, Babalian A, Seebeck P, Alvarez-Bolado G, Celio MR. Chemo- and optogenetic activation of hypothalamic Foxb1-expressing neurons and their terminal endings in the rostral-dorsolateral PAG leads to tachypnea, bradycardia, and immobility. eLife 2024; 12:RP86737. [PMID: 38300670 PMCID: PMC10945554 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86737] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Foxb1 -expressing neurons occur in the dorsal premammillary nucleus (PMd) and further rostrally in the parvafox nucleus, a longitudinal cluster of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus of rodents. The descending projection of these Foxb1+ neurons end in the dorsolateral part of the periaqueductal gray (dlPAG). The functional role of the Foxb1+ neuronal subpopulation in the PMd and the parvafox nucleus remains elusive. In this study, the activity of the Foxb1+ neurons and of their terminal endings in the dlPAG in mice was selectively altered by employing chemo- and optogenetic tools. Our results show that in whole-body barometric plethysmography, hM3Dq-mediated, global Foxb1+ neuron excitation activates respiration. Time-resolved optogenetic gain-of-function manipulation of the terminal endings of Foxb1+ neurons in the rostral third of the dlPAG leads to abrupt immobility and bradycardia. Chemogenetic activation of Foxb1+ cell bodies and ChR2-mediated excitation of their axonal endings in the dlPAG led to a phenotypical presentation congruent with a 'freezing-like' situation during innate defensive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reto B Cola
- Anatomy and program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of FribourgFribourgSwitzerland
| | - Diana M Roccaro-Waldmeyer
- Anatomy and program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of FribourgFribourgSwitzerland
| | - Samara Naim
- Anatomy and program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of FribourgFribourgSwitzerland
| | - Alexandre Babalian
- Anatomy and program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of FribourgFribourgSwitzerland
| | - Petra Seebeck
- Zurich integrative Rodent Physiology (ZIRP), University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | | | - Marco R Celio
- Anatomy and program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of FribourgFribourgSwitzerland
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10
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Higgins MBA, Glendining KA, Jasoni CL. The temporal and spatial pattern of leptin receptor-expressing cells in the developing mouse hypothalamus. J Neuroendocrinol 2024; 36:e13366. [PMID: 38279680 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13366] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The arcuate nucleus is a crucial hypothalamic brain region involved in regulating body weight homeostasis. Neurons within the arcuate nucleus respond to peripheral metabolic signals, such as leptin, and relay these signals via neuronal projections to brain regions both within and outside the hypothalamus, ultimately causing changes in an animal's behaviour and physiology. There is a substantial amount of evidence to indicate that leptin is intimately involved with the postnatal development of arcuate nucleus melanocortin circuitry. Further, it is clear that leptin signalling directly in the arcuate nucleus is required for circuitry development. However, as leptin receptor long isoform (Leprb) mRNA is expressed in multiple nuclei within the developing hypothalamus, including the postsynaptic target regions of arcuate melanocortin projections, this raises the possibility that leptin also signals in these nuclei to promote circuitry development. Here, we used RT-qPCR and RNAscope® to reveal the spatio-temporal pattern of Leprb mRNA in the early postnatal mouse hypothalamus. We found that Leprb mRNA expression increased significantly in the arcuate nucleus, ventromedial nucleus and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus from P8, in concert with the leptin surge. In the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, increases in Leprb mRNA were slightly later, increasing significantly from P12. Using duplex RNAscope®, we found Leprb co-expressed with Sim1, Pou3f2, Mc4r and Bdnf in the paraventricular nucleus at P8. Together, these data suggest that leptin may signal in a subset of neurons postsynaptic to arcuate melanocortin neurons, as well as within the arcuate nucleus itself, to promote the formation of arcuate melanocortin circuitry during the early postnatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt B A Higgins
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Kelly A Glendining
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Christine L Jasoni
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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11
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Ameroso D, Rios M. Synaptic plasticity and the role of astrocytes in central metabolic circuits. WIREs Mech Dis 2024; 16:e1632. [PMID: 37833830 PMCID: PMC10842964 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1632] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Neural circuits in the brain, primarily in the hypothalamus, are paramount to the homeostatic control of feeding and energy utilization. They integrate hunger, satiety, and body adiposity cues from the periphery and mediate the appropriate behavioral and physiological responses to satisfy the energy demands of the animal. Notably, perturbations in central homeostatic circuits have been linked to the etiology of excessive feeding and obesity. Considering the ever-changing energy requirements of the animal and required adaptations, it is not surprising that brain-feeding circuits remain plastic in adulthood and are subject to changes in synaptic strength as a consequence of nutritional status. Indeed, synapse density, probability of presynaptic transmitter release, and postsynaptic responses in hypothalamic energy balance centers are tailored to behavioral and physiological responses required to sustain survival. Mounting evidence supports key roles of astrocytes facilitating some of this plasticity. Here we discuss these synaptic plasticity mechanisms and the emerging roles of astrocytes influencing energy and glucose balance control in health and disease. This article is categorized under: Cancer > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Ameroso
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
| | - Maribel Rios
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
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12
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Nyema NT, McKnight AD, Vargas-Elvira AG, Schneps HM, Gold EG, Myers KP, Alhadeff AL. AgRP neuron activity promotes associations between sensory and nutritive signals to guide flavor preference. Mol Metab 2023; 78:101833. [PMID: 37925021 PMCID: PMC10665654 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101833] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The learned associations between sensory cues (e.g., taste, smell) and nutritive value (e.g., calories, post-ingestive signaling) of foods powerfully influences our eating behavior [1], but the neural circuits that mediate these associations are not well understood. Here, we examined the role of agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons - neurons which are critical drivers of feeding behavior [2; 3] - in mediating flavor-nutrient learning (FNL). METHODS Because mice prefer flavors associated with AgRP neuron activity suppression [4], we examined how optogenetic stimulation of AgRP neurons during intake influences FNL, and used fiber photometry to determine how endogenous AgRP neuron activity tracks associations between flavors and nutrients. RESULTS We unexpectedly found that tonic activity in AgRP neurons during FNL potentiated, rather than prevented, the development of flavor preferences. There were notable sex differences in the mechanisms for this potentiation. Specifically, in male mice, AgRP neuron activity increased flavor consumption during FNL training, thereby strengthening the association between flavors and nutrients. In female mice, AgRP neuron activity enhanced flavor-nutrient preferences independently of consumption during training, suggesting that AgRP neuron activity enhances the reward value of the nutrient-paired flavor. Finally, in vivo neural activity analyses demonstrated that acute AgRP neuron dynamics track the association between flavors and nutrients in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these data (1) demonstrate that AgRP neuron activity enhances associations between flavors and nutrients in a sex-dependent manner and (2) reveal that AgRP neurons track and rapidly update these associations. Taken together, our findings provide new insight into the role of AgRP neurons in assimilating sensory and nutritive signals for food reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel T Nyema
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aaron D McKnight
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Heather M Schneps
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | - Amber L Alhadeff
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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13
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Webster AN, Becker JJ, Li C, Schwalbe DC, Kerspern D, Karolczak EO, Godschall EN, Belmont-Rausch DM, Pers TH, Lutas A, Habib N, Güler AD, Krashes MJ, Campbell JN. Molecular Connectomics Reveals a Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Sensitive Neural Circuit for Satiety. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.31.564990. [PMID: 37961449 PMCID: PMC10635031 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.31.564990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Liraglutide and other agonists of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1RAs) are effective weight loss drugs, but how they suppress appetite remains unclear. GLP-1RAs inhibit hunger-promoting Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons of the arcuate hypothalamus (Arc) but only indirectly, implicating synaptic afferents to AgRP neurons. To investigate, we developed a method combining rabies-based connectomics with single-nuclei transcriptomics. Applying this method to AgRP neurons in mice predicts 21 afferent subtypes in the mediobasal and paraventricular hypothalamus. Among these are Trh+ Arc neurons (TrhArc), which express the Glp1r gene and are activated by the GLP-1RA liraglutide. Activating TrhArc neurons inhibits AgRP neurons and decreases feeding in an AgRP neuron-dependent manner. Silencing TrhArc neurons increases feeding and body weight and reduces liraglutide's satiating effects. Our results thus demonstrate a widely applicable method for molecular connectomics, reveal the molecular organization of AgRP neuron afferents, and shed light on a neurocircuit through which GLP-1RAs suppress appetite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addison N. Webster
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A
| | - Jordan J. Becker
- Section on Motivational Processes Underlying Appetite, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Chia Li
- Section on Motivational Processes Underlying Appetite, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Dana C. Schwalbe
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A
| | - Damien Kerspern
- Section on Motivational Processes Underlying Appetite, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Eva O. Karolczak
- Section on Motivational Processes Underlying Appetite, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | | | | | - Tune H. Pers
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrew Lutas
- Section on Motivational Processes Underlying Appetite, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Naomi Habib
- Center for Brain Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ali D. Güler
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A
| | - Michael J. Krashes
- Section on Motivational Processes Underlying Appetite, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - John N. Campbell
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A
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14
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Haddad-Tóvolli R, Claret M. Metabolic and feeding adjustments during pregnancy. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:564-580. [PMID: 37525006 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00871-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Eating behaviours are determined by the integration of interoceptive and environmental inputs. During pregnancy, numerous physiological adaptations take place in the maternal organism to provide an adequate environment for embryonic growth. Among them, whole-body physiological remodelling directly influences eating patterns, commonly causing notable taste perception alterations, food aversions and cravings. Recurrent food cravings for and compulsive eating of highly palatable food can contribute to the development and maintenance of gestational overweight and obesity with potential adverse health consequences for the offspring. Although much is known about how maternal eating habits influence offspring health, the mechanisms that underlie changes in taste perception and food preference during pregnancy (which guide and promote feeding) are only just starting to be elucidated. Given the limited and diffuse understanding of the neurobiology of gestational eating patterns, the aim of this Review is to compile, integrate and discuss the research conducted on this topic in both experimental models and humans. This article sheds light on the mechanisms that drive changes in female feeding behaviours during distinct physiological states. Understanding these processes is crucial to improve gestational parent health and decrease the burden of metabolic and food-related diseases in future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain.
- School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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15
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Fernandez G, De Francesco PN, Cornejo MP, Cabral A, Aguggia JP, Duque VJ, Sayar N, Cantel S, Burgos JI, Fehrentz JA, Rorato R, Atasoy D, Mecawi AS, Perello M. Ghrelin Action in the PVH of Male Mice: Accessibility, Neuronal Targets, and CRH Neurons Activation. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad154. [PMID: 37823477 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad154] [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: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The hormone ghrelin displays several well-characterized functions, including some with pharmaceutical interest. The receptor for ghrelin, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), is expressed in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH), a critical hub for the integration of metabolic, neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral functions. Here, we performed a neuroanatomical and functional characterization of the neuronal types mediating ghrelin actions in the PVH of male mice. We found that fluorescent ghrelin mainly labels PVH neurons immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1), which catalyze the production of nitric oxide [NO]). Centrally injected ghrelin increases c-Fos in NOS1 PVH neurons and NOS1 phosphorylation in the PVH. We also found that a high dose of systemically injected ghrelin increases the ghrelin level in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the periventricular PVH, and induces c-Fos in NOS1 PVH neurons. Such a high dose of systemically injected ghrelin activates a subset of NOS1 PVH neurons, which do not express oxytocin, via an arcuate nucleus-independent mechanism. Finally, we found that pharmacological inhibition of NO production fully abrogates ghrelin-induced increase of calcium concentration in corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons of the PVH whereas it partially impairs ghrelin-induced increase of plasma glucocorticoid levels. Thus, plasma ghrelin can directly target a subset of NO-producing neurons of the PVH that is involved in ghrelin-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gimena Fernandez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Pablo N De Francesco
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - María P Cornejo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Agustina Cabral
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Julieta P Aguggia
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Victor J Duque
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, CEP: 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Nilufer Sayar
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa Neuroscience Institute and Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Sonia Cantel
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier cedex 5 34293, France
| | - Juan I Burgos
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani" (CONICET and National University of La Plata), La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jean-Alain Fehrentz
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier cedex 5 34293, France
| | - Rodrigo Rorato
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, CEP: 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa Neuroscience Institute and Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - André S Mecawi
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, CEP: 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Mario Perello
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Uppsala, Uppsala 751 05, Sweden
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16
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Nyema NT, McKnight AD, Vargas-Elvira AG, Schneps HM, Gold EG, Myers KP, Alhadeff AL. AgRP neuron activity promotes associations between sensory and nutritive signals to guide flavor preference. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.19.558483. [PMID: 37786670 PMCID: PMC10541598 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.19.558483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective The learned associations between sensory cues (e.g., taste, smell) and nutritive value (e.g., calories, post-ingestive signaling) of foods powerfully influences our eating behavior [1], but the neural circuits that mediate these associations are not well understood. Here, we examined the role of agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons - neurons which are critical drivers of feeding behavior [2; 3] - in mediating flavor-nutrient learning (FNL). Methods Because mice prefer flavors associated with AgRP neuron activity suppression [4], we examined how optogenetic stimulation of AgRP neurons during intake influences FNL, and used fiber photometry to determine how endogenous AgRP neuron activity tracks associations between flavors and nutrients. Results We unexpectedly found that tonic activity in AgRP neurons during FNL potentiated, rather than prevented, the development of flavor preferences. There were notable sex differences in the mechanisms for this potentiation. Specifically, in male mice, AgRP neuron activity increased flavor consumption during FNL training, thereby strengthening the association between flavors and nutrients. In female mice, AgRP neuron activity enhanced flavor-nutrient preferences independently of consumption during training, suggesting that AgRP neuron activity enhances the reward value of the nutrient-paired flavor. Finally, in vivo neural activity analyses demonstrated that acute AgRP neuron dynamics track the association between flavors and nutrients in both sexes. Conclusions Overall, these data (1) demonstrate that AgRP neuron activity enhances associations between flavors and nutrients in a sex-dependent manner and (2) reveal that AgRP neurons track and update these associations on fast timescales. Taken together, our findings provide new insight into the role of AgRP neurons in assimilating sensory and nutritive signals for food reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel T. Nyema
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Aaron D. McKnight
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Heather M. Schneps
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | - Amber L. Alhadeff
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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17
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de Araujo Salgado I, Li C, Burnett CJ, Rodriguez Gonzalez S, Becker JJ, Horvath A, Earnest T, Kravitz AV, Krashes MJ. Toggling between food-seeking and self-preservation behaviors via hypothalamic response networks. Neuron 2023; 111:2899-2917.e6. [PMID: 37442130 PMCID: PMC10528369 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Motivated behaviors are often studied in isolation to assess labeled lines of neural connections underlying innate actions. However, in nature, multiple systems compete for expression of goal-directed behaviors via complex neural networks. Here, we examined flexible survival decisions in animals tasked with food seeking under predation threat. We found that predator exposure rapidly induced physiological, neuronal, and behavioral adaptations in mice highlighted by reduced food seeking and consumption contingent on current threat level. Diminishing conflict via internal state or external environment perturbations shifted feeding strategies. Predator introduction and/or selective manipulation of danger-responsive cholecystokinin (Cck) cells of the dorsal premammilary nucleus (PMd) suppressed hunger-sensitive Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons, providing a mechanism for threat-evoked hypophagia. Increased caloric need enhanced food seeking under duress through AgRP pathways to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and/or lateral hypothalamus (LH). Our results suggest oscillating interactions between systems underlying self-preservation and food seeking to promote optimal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel de Araujo Salgado
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chia Li
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - C Joseph Burnett
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shakira Rodriguez Gonzalez
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jordan J Becker
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Allison Horvath
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Thomas Earnest
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alexxai V Kravitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael J Krashes
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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18
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Cho D, O'Berry K, Possa-Paranhos IC, Butts J, Palanikumar N, Sweeney P. Paraventricular Thalamic MC3R Circuits Link Energy Homeostasis with Anxiety-Related Behavior. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6280-6296. [PMID: 37591737 PMCID: PMC10490510 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0704-23.2023] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic melanocortin system is critically involved in sensing stored energy and communicating this information throughout the brain, including to brain regions controlling motivation and emotion. This system consists of first-order agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and downstream neurons containing the melanocortin-3 (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). Although extensive work has characterized the function of downstream MC4R neurons, the identity and function of MC3R-containing neurons are poorly understood. Here, we used neuroanatomical and circuit manipulation approaches in mice to identify a novel pathway linking hypothalamic melanocortin neurons to melanocortin-3 receptor neurons located in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) in male and female mice. MC3R neurons in PVT are innervated by hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons and are activated by anorexigenic and aversive stimuli. Consistently, chemogenetic activation of PVT MC3R neurons increases anxiety-related behavior and reduces feeding in hungry mice, whereas inhibition of PVT MC3R neurons reduces anxiety-related behavior. These studies position PVT MC3R neurons as important cellular substrates linking energy status with neural circuitry regulating anxiety-related behavior and represent a promising potential target for diseases at the intersection of metabolism and anxiety-related behavior such as anorexia nervosa.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Animals must constantly adapt their behavior to changing internal and external challenges, and impairments in appropriately responding to these challenges are a hallmark of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we demonstrate that paraventricular thalamic neurons containing the melanocortin-3 receptor respond to energy-state-related information and external challenges to regulate anxiety-related behavior in mice. Thus, these neurons represent a potential target for understanding the neurobiology of disorders at the intersection of metabolism and psychiatry such as anorexia nervosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajin Cho
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Kyle O'Berry
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Ingrid Camila Possa-Paranhos
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Jared Butts
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Naraen Palanikumar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Patrick Sweeney
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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19
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Tan B, Browne CJ, Nöbauer T, Vaziri A, Friedman JM, Nestler EJ. Drugs of abuse hijack a mesolimbic pathway that processes homeostatic need. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.03.556059. [PMID: 37732251 PMCID: PMC10508763 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.03.556059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Addiction prioritizes drug use over innate needs by "hijacking" brain circuits that direct motivation, but how this develops remains unclear. Using whole-brain FOS mapping and in vivo single-neuron calcium imaging, we find that drugs of abuse augment ensemble activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and disorganize overlapping ensemble responses to natural rewards in a cell-type-specific manner. Combining "FOS-Seq", CRISPR-perturbations, and snRNA-seq, we identify Rheb as a shared molecular substrate that regulates cell-type-specific signal transductions in NAc while enabling drugs to suppress natural reward responses. Retrograde circuit mapping pinpoints orbitofrontal cortex which, upon activation, mirrors drug effects on innate needs. These findings deconstruct the dynamic, molecular, and circuit basis of a common reward circuit, wherein drug value is scaled to promote drug-seeking over other, normative goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Caleb J. Browne
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Tobias Nöbauer
- Laboratory of Neurotechnology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alipasha Vaziri
- Laboratory of Neurotechnology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- The Kavli Neural Systems Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Friedman
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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20
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Sweeney P, Gimenez LE, Hernandez CC, Cone RD. Targeting the central melanocortin system for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:507-519. [PMID: 37365323 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00855-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
A large body of preclinical and clinical data shows that the central melanocortin system is a promising therapeutic target for treating various metabolic disorders such as obesity and cachexia, as well as anorexia nervosa. Setmelanotide, which functions by engaging the central melanocortin circuitry, was approved by the FDA in 2020 for use in certain forms of syndromic obesity. Furthermore, the FDA approvals in 2019 of two peptide drugs targeting melanocortin receptors for the treatment of generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (bremelanotide) and erythropoietic protoporphyria-associated phototoxicity (afamelanotide) demonstrate the safety of this class of peptides. These approvals have also renewed excitement in the development of therapeutics targeting the melanocortin system. Here, we review the anatomy and function of the melanocortin system, discuss progress and challenges in developing melanocortin receptor-based therapeutics, and outline potential metabolic and behavioural disorders that could be addressed using pharmacological agents targeting these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Sweeney
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Luis E Gimenez
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Roger D Cone
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature Science and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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21
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Balapattabi K, Yavuz Y, Jiang J, Deng G, Mathieu NM, Ritter ML, Opichka MA, Reho JJ, McCorvy JD, Nakagawa P, Morselli LL, Mouradian GC, Atasoy D, Cui H, Hodges MR, Sigmund CD, Grobe JL. Angiotensin AT 1A receptor signal switching in Agouti-related peptide neurons mediates metabolic rate adaptation during obesity. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112935. [PMID: 37540598 PMCID: PMC10530419 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112935] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) adaptation occurs during obesity and is hypothesized to contribute to failed weight management. Angiotensin II (Ang-II) type 1 (AT1A) receptors in Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons contribute to the integrative control of RMR, and deletion of AT1A from AgRP neurons causes RMR adaptation. Extracellular patch-clamp recordings identify distinct cellular responses of individual AgRP neurons from lean mice to Ang-II: no response, inhibition via AT1A and Gαi, or stimulation via Ang-II type 2 (AT2) receptors and Gαq. Following diet-induced obesity, a subset of Ang-II/AT1A-inhibited AgRP neurons undergo a spontaneous G-protein "signal switch," whereby AT1A stop inhibiting the cell via Gαi and instead begin stimulating the cell via Gαq. DREADD-mediated activation of Gαi, but not Gαq, in AT1A-expressing AgRP cells stimulates RMR in lean and obese mice. Thus, loss of AT1A-Gαi coupling within the AT1A-expressing AgRP neuron subtype represents a molecular mechanism contributing to RMR adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yavuz Yavuz
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jingwei Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Guorui Deng
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Natalia M Mathieu
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - McKenzie L Ritter
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Megan A Opichka
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - John J Reho
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Pablo Nakagawa
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Lisa L Morselli
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Gary C Mouradian
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Huxing Cui
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Matthew R Hodges
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Curt D Sigmund
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Justin L Grobe
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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22
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Grzelka K, Wilhelms H, Dodt S, Dreisow ML, Madara JC, Walker SJ, Wu C, Wang D, Lowell BB, Fenselau H. A synaptic amplifier of hunger for regaining body weight in the hypothalamus. Cell Metab 2023; 35:770-785.e5. [PMID: 36965483 PMCID: PMC10160008 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Restricting caloric intake effectively reduces body weight, but most dieters fail long-term adherence to caloric deficit and eventually regain lost weight. Hypothalamic circuits that control hunger drive critically determine body weight; yet, how weight loss sculpts these circuits to motivate food consumption until lost weight is regained remains unclear. Here, we probe the contribution of synaptic plasticity in discrete excitatory afferents on hunger-promoting AgRP neurons. We reveal a crucial role for activity-dependent, remarkably long-lasting amplification of synaptic activity originating from paraventricular hypothalamus thyrotropin-releasing (PVHTRH) neurons in long-term body weight control. Silencing PVHTRH neurons inhibits the potentiation of excitatory input to AgRP neurons and diminishes concomitant regain of lost weight. Brief stimulation of the pathway is sufficient to enduringly potentiate this glutamatergic hunger synapse and triggers an NMDAR-dependent gaining of body weight that enduringly persists. Identification of this activity-dependent synaptic amplifier provides a previously unrecognized target to combat regain of lost weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Grzelka
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Strasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Hannah Wilhelms
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Strasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Stephan Dodt
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Strasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Dreisow
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Strasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Joseph C Madara
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Samuel J Walker
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Chen Wu
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Daqing Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bradford B Lowell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Henning Fenselau
- Synaptic Transmission in Energy Homeostasis Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Strasse 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 26, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 26, Cologne 50931, Germany.
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23
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Singh U, Saito K, Khan MZ, Jiang J, Toth BA, Rodeghiero SR, Dickey JE, Deng Y, Deng G, Kim YC, Cui H. Collateralizing ventral subiculum melanocortin 4 receptor circuits regulate energy balance and food motivation. Physiol Behav 2023; 262:114105. [PMID: 36736416 PMCID: PMC9981473 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114105] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampal dysfunction is associated with major depressive disorder, a serious mental illness characterized by not only depressed mood but also appetite disturbance and dysregulated body weight. However, the underlying mechanisms by which hippocampal circuits regulate metabolic homeostasis remain incompletely understood. Here we show that collateralizing melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) circuits in the ventral subiculum (vSUB), one of the major output structures of the hippocampal formation, affect food motivation and energy balance. Viral-mediated cell type- and projection-specific input-output circuit mapping revealed that the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh)-projecting vSUBMC4R+ neurons send extensive collateral projections of to various hypothalamic nuclei known to be important for energy balance, including the arcuate, ventromedial and dorsomedial nuclei, and receive monosynaptic inputs mainly from the ventral CA1 and the anterior paraventricular nucleus of thalamus. Chemogenetic activation of NAcSh-projecting vSUBMC4R+neurons lead to increase in motivation to obtain palatable food without noticeable effect on homeostatic feeding. Viral-mediated restoration of MC4R signaling in the vSUB partially restores obesity in MC4R-null mice without affecting anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Collectively, these results delineate vSUBMC4R+ circuits to the unprecedented level of precision and identify the vSUBMC4R signaling as a novel regulator of food reward and energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uday Singh
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Kenji Saito
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Michael Z. Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Jingwei Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Brandon A. Toth
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Samuel R. Rodeghiero
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Jacob E. Dickey
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Yue Deng
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Guorui Deng
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Young-Cho Kim
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Huxing Cui
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States; F.O.E. Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States.
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24
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Fang X, Chen Y, Wang J, Zhang Z, Bai Y, Denney K, Gan L, Guo M, Weintraub NL, Lei Y, Lu XY. Increased intrinsic and synaptic excitability of hypothalamic POMC neurons underlies chronic stress-induced behavioral deficits. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1365-1382. [PMID: 36473997 PMCID: PMC10005948 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01872-5] [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: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress exposure induces maladaptive behavioral responses and increases susceptibility to neuropsychiatric conditions. However, specific neuronal populations and circuits that are highly sensitive to stress and trigger maladaptive behavioral responses remain to be identified. Here we investigate the patterns of spontaneous activity of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus following exposure to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 10 days, a stress paradigm used to induce behavioral deficits such as anhedonia and behavioral despair [1, 2]. CUS exposure increased spontaneous firing of POMC neurons in both male and female mice, attributable to reduced GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition and increased intrinsic neuronal excitability. While acute activation of POMC neurons failed to induce behavioral changes in non-stressed mice of both sexes, subacute (3 days) and chronic (10 days) repeated activation of POMC neurons was sufficient to induce anhedonia and behavioral despair in males but not females under non-stress conditions. Acute activation of POMC neurons promoted susceptibility to subthreshold unpredictable stress in both male and female mice. Conversely, acute inhibition of POMC neurons was sufficient to reverse CUS-induced anhedonia and behavioral despair in both sexes. Collectively, these results indicate that chronic stress induces both synaptic and intrinsic plasticity of POMC neurons, leading to neuronal hyperactivity. Our findings suggest that POMC neuron dysfunction drives chronic stress-related behavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Fang
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yuting Chen
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Jiangong Wang
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Ziliang Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Kirstyn Denney
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Lin Gan
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Neal L Weintraub
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yun Lei
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Xin-Yun Lu
- Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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25
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Olfactory and neuropeptide inputs to appetite neurons in the arcuate nucleus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.28.530282. [PMID: 36909633 PMCID: PMC10002664 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.28.530282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The sense of smell has potent effects on appetite, but the underlying neural mechanisms are largely a mystery. The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus contains two subsets of neurons linked to appetite: AgRP (agouti-related peptide) neurons, which enhance appetite, and POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin) neurons, which suppress appetite. Here, we find that AgRP and POMC neurons receive indirect inputs from partially overlapping areas of the olfactory cortex, thus identifying their sources of odor signals. We also find neurons directly upstream of AgRP or POMC neurons in numerous other areas, identifying potential relays between the olfactory cortex and AgRP or POMC neurons. Transcriptome profiling of individual AgRP neurons reveals differential expression of receptors for multiple neuromodulators. Notably, known ligands of the receptors define subsets of neurons directly upstream of AgRP neurons in specific brain areas. Together, these findings indicate that higher olfactory areas can differentially influence AgRP and POMC appetite neurons, that subsets of AgRP neurons can be regulated by different neuromodulators, and that subsets of neurons upstream of AgRP neurons in specific brain areas use different neuromodulators, together or in distinct combinations to modulate AgRP neurons and thus appetite.
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26
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Cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) Seeds Intake Increases Energy Expenditure and Reduces Fat Mass in Mice by Modulating Neural Circuits That Regulate Adipose Tissue Lipolysis and Mitochondrial Oxidative Metabolism in Liver and Skeletal Muscle. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043909. [PMID: 36835337 PMCID: PMC9960522 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043909] [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: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardamom seed (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton; EC) is consumed in several countries worldwide and is considered a nutraceutical spice since it exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic activities. In obese individuals, EC intake also favors weight loss. However, the mechanism for these effects has not been studied. Here, we identified that EC modulates the neuroendocrine axis that regulates food intake, body weight, mitochondrial activity, and energy expenditure in mice. We fed C57BL/6 mice with diets containing 3%, 6%, or 12% EC or a control diet for 14 weeks. Mice fed the EC-containing diets gained less weight than control, despite slightly higher food intake. The lower final weight of EC-fed mice was due to lesser fat content but increased lean mass than control. EC intake increased lipolysis in subcutaneous adipose tissue, and reduced adipocyte size in subcutaneous, visceral, and brown adipose tissues. EC intake also prevented lipid droplet accumulation and increased mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle and liver. Accordingly, fasting and postprandial oxygen consumption, as well as fasting fat oxidation and postprandial glucose utilization were higher in mice fed with EC than in control. EC intake reduced proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA content in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, without an impact on neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA. These neuropeptides control food intake but also influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) mRNA expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and circulating triiodothyronine (T3) were lower in EC-fed mice than in control. This effect was linked with decreased circulating corticosterone and weight of adrenal glands. Our results indicate that EC modulates appetite, increases lipolysis in adipose tissue and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle, leading to increased energy expenditure and lower body fat mass. These metabolic effects were ascribable to the modulation of the HPT and HPA axes. LC-MS profiling of EC found 11 phenolic compounds among which protocatechuic acid (23.8%), caffeic acid (21.06%) and syringic acid (29.25%) were the most abundant, while GC-MS profiling showed 16 terpenoids among which costunolide (68.11%), ambrial (5.3%) and cis-α-terpineol (7.99%) were identified. Extrapolation of mice-to-human EC intake was performed using the body surface area normalization equation which gave a conversion equivalent daily human intake dose of 76.9-308.4 mg bioactives for an adult of 60 kg that can be obtained from 14.5-58.3 g of cardamom seeds (18.5-74.2 g cardamom pods). These results support further exploration of EC as a coadjuvant in clinical practice.
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Aklan I, Sayar-Atasoy N, Deng F, Kim H, Yavuz Y, Rysted J, Laule C, Davis D, Li Y, Atasoy D. Dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons suppress feeding through redundant forebrain circuits. Mol Metab 2023; 69:101676. [PMID: 36682413 PMCID: PMC9923194 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Serotonin (5HT) is a well-known anorexigenic molecule, and 5HT neurons of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) have been implicated in suppression of feeding; however, the downstream circuitry is poorly understood. Here we explored major projections of DRN5HT neurons for their capacity to modulate feeding. METHODS We used optogenetics to selectively activate DRN5HT axonal projections in hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic areas and monitored food intake. We next used fiber photometry to image the activity dynamics of DRN5HT axons and 5HT levels in projection areas in response feeding and metabolic hormones. Finally, we used electrophysiology to determine how DRN5HT axons affect downstream neuron activity. RESULTS We found that selective activation of DRN5HT axons in (DRN5HT → LH) and (DRN5HT → BNST) suppresses feeding whereas activating medial hypothalamic projections has no effect. Using in vivo imaging, we found that food access and satiety hormones activate DRN5HT projections to LH where they also rapidly increase extracellular 5HT levels. Optogenetic mapping revealed that DRN5HT → LHvGAT and DRN5HT → LHvGlut2 connections are primarily inhibitory and excitatory respectively. Further, in addition to its direct action on LH neurons, we found that 5HT suppresses GABA release from presynaptic terminals arriving from AgRP neurons. CONCLUSIONS These findings define functionally redundant forebrain circuits through which DRN5HT neurons suppress feeding and reveal that these projections can be modulated by metabolic hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iltan Aklan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nilufer Sayar-Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Yavuz Yavuz
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA,Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jacob Rysted
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Connor Laule
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Debbie Davis
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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28
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Liu H, He Y, Bai J, Zhang C, Zhang F, Yang Y, Luo H, Yu M, Liu H, Tu L, Zhang N, Yin N, Han J, Yan Z, Scarcelli NA, Conde KM, Wang M, Bean JC, Potts CHS, Wang C, Hu F, Liu F, Xu Y. Hypothalamic Grb10 enhances leptin signalling and promotes weight loss. Nat Metab 2023; 5:147-164. [PMID: 36593271 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00701-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Leptin acts on hypothalamic neurons expressing agouti-related protein (AgRP) or pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) to suppress appetite and increase energy expenditure, but the intracellular mechanisms that modulate central leptin signalling are not fully understood. Here we show that growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10), an adaptor protein that binds to the insulin receptor and negatively regulates its signalling pathway, can interact with the leptin receptor and enhance leptin signalling. Ablation of Grb10 in AgRP neurons promotes weight gain, while overexpression of Grb10 in AgRP neurons reduces body weight in male and female mice. In parallel, deletion or overexpression of Grb10 in POMC neurons exacerbates or attenuates diet-induced obesity, respectively. Consistent with its role in leptin signalling, Grb10 in AgRP and POMC neurons enhances the anorexic and weight-reducing actions of leptin. Grb10 also exaggerates the inhibitory effects of leptin on AgRP neurons via ATP-sensitive potassium channel-mediated currents while facilitating the excitatory drive of leptin on POMC neurons through transient receptor potential channels. Our study identifies Grb10 as a potent leptin sensitizer that contributes to the maintenance of energy homeostasis by enhancing the response of AgRP and POMC neurons to leptin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailan Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yang He
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Juli Bai
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy and Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chuanhai Zhang
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy and Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongjie Yang
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hairong Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Meng Yu
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hesong Liu
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Longlong Tu
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nan Zhang
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Na Yin
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junying Han
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zili Yan
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nikolas Anthony Scarcelli
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristine Marie Conde
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mengjie Wang
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan Carter Bean
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camille Hollan Sidell Potts
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chunmei Wang
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fang Hu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Feng Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yong Xu
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA.
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29
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Liu S, Wang X, Zheng Q, Gao L, Sun Q. Sleep Deprivation and Central Appetite Regulation. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14245196. [PMID: 36558355 PMCID: PMC9783730 DOI: 10.3390/nu14245196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Research shows that reduced sleep duration is related to an increased risk of obesity. The relationship between sleep deprivation and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases may be related to the imbalance of appetite regulation. To comprehensively illustrate the specific relationship between sleep deprivation and appetite regulation, this review introduces the pathophysiology of sleep deprivation, the research cutting edge of animal models, and the central regulatory mechanism of appetite under sleep deprivation. This paper summarizes the changes in appetite-related hormones orexin, ghrelin, leptin, and insulin secretion caused by long-term sleep deprivation based on the epidemiology data and animal studies that have established sleep deprivation models. Moreover, this review analyzes the potential mechanism of associations between appetite regulation and sleep deprivation, providing more clues on further studies and new strategies to access obesity and metabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuailing Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Xiya Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Qian Zheng
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Lanyue Gao
- Experimental Center for School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-15840312720
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30
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Micarelli A, Viziano A, Carbini V, Misici I, Guzzo F, Micarelli B, Alessandrini M. Effects of vestibular rehabilitation on body composition and daily-living physical activity in chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction. J Vestib Res 2022; 33:71-83. [PMID: 36463467 DOI: 10.3233/ves-220019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH) may lead to modifications on metabolism and body composition. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) demonstrated its effectiveness in ameliorating balance function and several other daily-living aspects. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate metabolic composition, by means of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and daily activity, with the use of a wrist-worn movement tracker, in UVH participants before and after VR, and to compare data with a healthy control group (CG) of adults. METHODS 46 UVH and 60 CG participants underwent otoneurological testing, self-report and performance questionnaires, BIA, and wore a device tracking daily movement and energy expenditure for one full day; this was performed before and after VR. RESULTS UVH participants demonstrated a significant (p = 0.008) increase in muscle mass after VR, and, when compared to CG, no differences were present with respect to visceral fat and muscle mass. UVH adults reported a significant increase in energy expenditure spent in movement (p = 0.008) and during the day (p = 0.009), daily number of strides (p = 0.009) and calories spent in sweeping (p = 0.009) and stairing (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Results from this study show that VR provided an improvement of metabolic function and body composition of people with UVH, possibly by contrasting structural modifications in neural pathways stemming from the vestibular nuclei and connected to autonomous function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Micarelli
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy.,ITER Center for Balance and Rehabilitation Research (ICBRR), UNITER Onlus, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Viziano
- University of Rome Tor Vergata - Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine - Italy
| | - Valentina Carbini
- ITER Center for Balance and Rehabilitation Research (ICBRR), UNITER Onlus, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Misici
- ITER Center for Balance and Rehabilitation Research (ICBRR), UNITER Onlus, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Guzzo
- ITER Center for Balance and Rehabilitation Research (ICBRR), UNITER Onlus, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Micarelli
- ITER Center for Balance and Rehabilitation Research (ICBRR), UNITER Onlus, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Alessandrini
- University of Rome Tor Vergata - Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine - Italy
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31
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Lewis JE, Woodward OR, Nuzzaci D, Smith CA, Adriaenssens AE, Billing L, Brighton C, Phillips BU, Tadross JA, Kinston SJ, Ciabatti E, Göttgens B, Tripodi M, Hornigold D, Baker D, Gribble FM, Reimann F. Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 4 (Rxfp4) expressing hypothalamic neurons modulate food intake and preference in mice. Mol Metab 2022; 66:101604. [PMID: 36184065 PMCID: PMC9579047 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) signalling, through its cognate receptor relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 4 (RXFP4), has been reported to be orexigenic, and the high fat diet (HFD) preference observed in wildtype mice is altered in Rxfp4 knock-out mice. In this study, we used a new Rxfp4-Cre mouse model to investigate the mechanisms underlying these observations. METHODS We generated transgenic Rxfp4-Cre mice and investigated central expression of Rxfp4 by RT-qPCR, RNAscope and intraparenchymal infusion of INSL5. Rxfp4-expressing cells were chemogenetically manipulated in global Cre-reporter mice using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) or after stereotactic injection of a Cre-dependent AAV-DIO-Dq-DREADD targeting a population located in the ventromedial hypothalamus (RXFP4VMH). Food intake and feeding motivation were assessed in the presence and absence of a DREADD agonist. Rxfp4-expressing cells in the hypothalamus were characterised by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) and the connectivity of RXFP4VMH cells was investigated using viral tracing. RESULTS Rxfp4-Cre mice displayed Cre-reporter expression in the hypothalamus. Active expression of Rxfp4 in the adult mouse brain was confirmed by RT-qPCR and RNAscope. Functional receptor expression was supported by cyclic AMP-responses to INSL5 application in ex vivo brain slices and increased HFD and highly palatable liquid meal (HPM), but not chow, intake after intra-VMH INSL5 infusion. scRNAseq of hypothalamic RXFP4 neurons defined a cluster expressing VMH markers, alongside known appetite-modulating neuropeptide receptors (Mc4r, Cckar and Nmur2). Viral tracing demonstrated RXFP4VMH neural projections to nuclei implicated in hedonic feeding behaviour. Whole body chemogenetic inhibition (Di-DREADD) of Rxfp4-expressing cells, mimicking physiological INSL5-RXFP4 Gi-signalling, increased intake of the HFD and HPM, but not chow, whilst activation (Dq-DREADD), either at whole body level or specifically within the VMH, reduced HFD and HPM intake and motivation to work for the HPM. CONCLUSION These findings identify RXFP4VMH neurons as regulators of food intake and preference, and hypothalamic RXFP4 signalling as a target for feeding behaviour manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo E Lewis
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
| | - Orla Rm Woodward
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Danaé Nuzzaci
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Christopher A Smith
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Alice E Adriaenssens
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Lawrence Billing
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Cheryl Brighton
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Benjamin U Phillips
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John A Tadross
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK; Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Sarah J Kinston
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ernesto Ciabatti
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marco Tripodi
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Neurobiology Division, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - David Hornigold
- Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Ltd, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Baker
- Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Ltd, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fiona M Gribble
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
| | - Frank Reimann
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
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Micioni Di Bonaventura E, Botticelli L, Del Bello F, Giorgioni G, Piergentili A, Quaglia W, Romano A, Gaetani S, Micioni Di Bonaventura MV, Cifani C. Investigating the role of the central melanocortin system in stress and stress-related disorders. Pharmacol Res 2022; 185:106521. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Choi Y, Min HY, Hwang J, Jo YH. Magel2 knockdown in hypothalamic POMC neurons innervating the medial amygdala reduces susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/11/e202201502. [PMID: 36007929 PMCID: PMC9418835 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperphagia and obesity profoundly affect the health of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The Magel2 gene among the genes in the Prader-Willi syndrome deletion region is expressed in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC). Knockout of the Magel2 gene disrupts POMC neuronal circuits and functions. Here, we report that loss of the Magel2 gene exclusively in ARCPOMC neurons innervating the medial amygdala (MeA) causes a reduction in body weight in both male and female mice fed with a high-fat diet. This anti-obesity effect is associated with an increased locomotor activity. There are no significant differences in glucose and insulin tolerance in mice without the Magel2 gene in ARCPOMC neurons innervating the MeA. Plasma estrogen levels are higher in female mutant mice than in controls. Blockade of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), but not estrogen receptor-α (ER-α), reduces locomotor activity in female mutant mice. Hence, our study provides evidence that knockdown of the Magel2 gene in ARCPOMC neurons innervating the MeA reduces susceptibility to diet-induced obesity with increased locomotor activity through activation of central GPER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Choi
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Hyeon-Young Min
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Jiyeon Hwang
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Young-Hwan Jo
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA .,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
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34
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Jia X, Chen S, Li X, Tao S, Lai J, Liu H, Huang K, Tian Y, Wei P, Yang F, Lu Z, Chen Z, Liu XA, Xu F, Wang L. Divergent neurocircuitry dissociates two components of the stress response: glucose mobilization and anxiety-like behavior. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111586. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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35
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Patra PH, Tench B, Hitrec T, Holmes F, Drake R, Cerritelli S, Spanswick D, Pickering AE. Pro-Opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract mediate endorphinergic endogenous analgesia in mice. Pain 2022; 164:1051-1066. [PMID: 36448978 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) contains pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons which are one of the two major sources of β-endorphin in the brain. The functional role of these NTS POMC neurons in nociceptive and cardiorespiratory function is debated. We have shown that NTS POMC optogenetic activation produces bradycardia and transient apnoea in a working heart brainstem preparation and chemogenetic activation with an engineered ion channel (PSAM) produced opioidergic analgesia in vivo . To better define the role of the NTS POMC neurons in behaving animals, we adopted in vivo optogenetics (ChrimsonR) and excitatory/inhibitory chemogenetic DREADD (hM3Dq/hM4Di) strategies in POMC-Cre mice. We show that optogenetic activation of NTS POMC neurons produces time-locked, graded, transient bradycardia and bradypnoea in anaesthetised mice which is naloxone sensitive (1 mg/kg, i.p) suggesting a role of β-endorphin. Both optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of NTS POMC neurons produces sustained thermal analgesia in behaving mice which can be blocked by naloxone. It also produced analgesia in inflammatory pain (carrageenan) but not in a neuropathic pain model (tibial nerve transection). Inhibiting NTS POMC neurons does not produce any effect on basal nociception but inhibits stress-induced analgesia (unlike inhibition of arcuate POMC neurons). Activation of NTS POMC neuronal populations in conscious mice did not cause respiratory depression, anxiety or locomotor deficit (in open field) nor affective preference. These findings indicate that NTS POMC neurons play a key role in the generation of endorphinergic endogenous analgesia and can also regulate cardiorespiratory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pabitra Hriday Patra
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Becks Tench
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Timna Hitrec
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Fiona Holmes
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Robert Drake
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Serena Cerritelli
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - David Spanswick
- Neurosolutions, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, West Midlands, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Anthony Edward Pickering
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
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Emx1-Cre Is Expressed in Peripheral Autonomic Ganglia That Regulate Central Cardiorespiratory Functions. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0093-22.2022. [PMID: 36192157 PMCID: PMC9581573 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0093-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Emx1-IRES-Cre transgenic mouse is commonly used to direct genetic recombination in forebrain excitatory neurons. However, the original study reported that Emx1-Cre is also expressed embryonically in peripheral autonomic ganglia, which could potentially affect the interpretation of targeted circuitry contributing to systemic phenotypes. Here, we report that Emx1-Cre is expressed in the afferent vagus nerve system involved in autonomic cardiorespiratory regulatory pathways. Our imaging studies revealed expression of Emx1-Cre driven tdtomato fluorescence in the afferent vagus nerve innervating the dorsal medulla of brainstem, cell bodies in the nodose ganglion, and their potential target structures at the carotid bifurcation such as the carotid sinus and the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Photostimulation of the afferent terminals in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in vitro using Emx1-Cre driven ChR2 reliably evoked EPSCs in the postsynaptic neurons with electrophysiological characteristics consistent with the vagus afferent nerves. In addition, optogenetic stimulation targeting the Emx1-Cre expressing structures identified in this study, such as vagus nerve, carotid bifurcation, and the dorsal medulla surface transiently depressed cardiorespiratory rate in urethane anesthetized mice in vivo Together, our study demonstrates that Emx1-IRES-Cre is expressed in the key peripheral autonomic nerve system and can modulate cardiorespiratory function independently of forebrain expression. These results raise caution when interpreting systemic phenotypes of Emx1-IRES-Cre conditional recombinant mice, and also suggest the utility of this line to investigate modulators of the afferent vagal system.
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Abstract
When it comes to food, one tempting substance is sugar. Although sweetness is detected by the tongue, the desire to consume sugar arises from the gut. Even when sweet taste is impaired, animals can distinguish sugars from non-nutritive sweeteners guided by sensory cues arising from the gut epithelium. Here, we review the molecular receptors, cells, circuits and behavioural consequences associated with sugar sensing in the gut. Recent work demonstrates that some duodenal cells, termed neuropod cells, can detect glucose using sodium-glucose co-transporter 1 and release glutamate onto vagal afferent neurons. Based on these and other data, we propose a model in which specific populations of vagal neurons relay these sensory cues to distinct sets of neurons in the brain, including neurons in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, dopaminergic reward circuits in the basal ganglia and homeostatic feeding circuits in the hypothalamus, that alter current and future sugar consumption. This emerging model highlights the critical role of the gut in sensing the chemical properties of ingested nutrients to guide appetitive decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winston W Liu
- Laboratory of Gut Brain Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Diego V Bohórquez
- Laboratory of Gut Brain Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Stutz B, Waterson MJ, Šestan-Peša M, Dietrich MO, Škarica M, Sestan N, Racz B, Magyar A, Sotonyi P, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Matyas F, Stoiljkovic M, Horvath TL. AgRP neurons control structure and function of the medial prefrontal cortex. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3951-3960. [PMID: 35906488 PMCID: PMC9891653 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01691-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypothalamic agouti-related peptide and neuropeptide Y-expressing (AgRP) neurons have a critical role in both feeding and non-feeding behaviors of newborn, adolescent, and adult mice, suggesting their broad modulatory impact on brain functions. Here we show that constitutive impairment of AgRP neurons or their peripubertal chemogenetic inhibition resulted in both a numerical and functional reduction of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice. These changes were accompanied by alteration of oscillatory network activity in mPFC, impaired sensorimotor gating, and altered ambulatory behavior that could be reversed by the administration of clozapine, a non-selective dopamine receptor antagonist. The observed AgRP effects are transduced to mPFC in part via dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area and may also be conveyed by medial thalamic neurons. Our results unmasked a previously unsuspected role for hypothalamic AgRP neurons in control of neuronal pathways that regulate higher-order brain functions during development and in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Stutz
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael J Waterson
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matija Šestan-Peša
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marcelo O Dietrich
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mario Škarica
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bence Racz
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Aletta Magyar
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Doctoral School of Neurosciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Sotonyi
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zhong-Wu Liu
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Xiao-Bing Gao
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ferenc Matyas
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Milan Stoiljkovic
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tamas L Horvath
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
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Jiang H. Hypothalamic GABAergic neurocircuitry in the regulation of energy homeostasis and sleep/wake control. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:531-540. [PMID: 37724165 PMCID: PMC10388747 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neuron, as one of important cell types in synaptic transmission, has been widely involved in central nervous system (CNS) regulation of organismal physiologies including cognition, emotion, arousal and reward. However, upon their distribution in various brain regions, effects of GABAergic neurons in the brain are very diverse. In current report, we will present an overview of the role of GABAergic mediated inhibitory neurocircuitry in the hypothalamus, underlying mechanism of feeding and sleep homeostasis as well as the characteristics of latest transcriptome profile in order to call attention to the GABAergic system as potentially a promising pharmaceutical intervention or a deep brain stimulation target in eating and sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission of China, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Molecular profile and response to energy deficit of leptin-receptor neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13374. [PMID: 35927440 PMCID: PMC9352899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16492-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptin exerts its effects on energy balance by inhibiting food intake and increasing energy expenditure via leptin receptors in the hypothalamus. While LepR neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, the primary target of leptin, have been extensively studied, LepR neurons in other hypothalamic nuclei remain understudied. LepR neurons in the lateral hypothalamus contribute to leptin's effects on food intake and reward, but due to the low abundance of this population it has been difficult to study their molecular profile and responses to energy deficit. We here explore the transcriptome of LepR neurons in the LH and their response to energy deficit. Male LepR-Cre mice were injected in the LH with an AAV carrying Cre-dependent L10:GFP. Few weeks later the hypothalami from fed and food-restricted (24-h) mice were dissected and the TRAP protocol was performed, for the isolation of translating mRNAs from LepR cells in the LH, followed by RNA sequencing. After mapping and normalization, differential expression analysis was performed with DESeq2. We confirm that the isolated mRNA is enriched in LepR transcripts and other known neuropeptide markers of LepRLH neurons, of which we investigate the localization patterns in the LH. We identified novel markers of LepRLH neurons with association to energy balance and metabolic disease, such as Acvr1c, Npy1r, Itgb1, and genes that are differentially regulated by food deprivation, such as Fam46a and Rrad. Our dataset provides a reliable and extensive resource of the molecular makeup of LH LepR neurons and their response to food deprivation.
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Fernandes ACA, de Oliveira FP, Fernandez G, da Guia Vieira L, Rosa CG, do Nascimento T, de Castro França S, Donato J, Vella KR, Antunes-Rodrigues J, Mecawi AS, Perello M, Elias LLK, Rorato R. Arcuate AgRP, but not POMC neurons, modulate paraventricular CRF synthesis and release in response to fasting. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:118. [PMID: 35902915 PMCID: PMC9331576 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00853-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is essential for metabolic adaptation in response to fasting. However, the neurocircuitry connecting changes in the peripheral energy stores to the activity of hypothalamic paraventricular corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRFPVN) neurons, the master controller of the HPA axis activity, is not completely understood. Our main goal was to determine if hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) POMC and AgRP neurons can communicate fasting-induced changes in peripheral energy stores, associated to a fall in plasma leptin levels, to CRFPVN neurons to modulate the HPA axis activity in mice. RESULTS We observed increased plasma corticosterone levels associate with increased CRFPVN mRNA expression and increased CRFPVN neuronal activity in 36 h fasted mice. These responses were associated with a fall in plasma leptin levels and changes in the mRNA expression of Agrp and Pomc in the ARC. Fasting-induced decrease in plasma leptin partially modulated these responses through a change in the activity of ARC neurons. The chemogenetic activation of POMCARC by DREADDs did not affect fasting-induced activation of the HPA axis. DREADDs inhibition of AgRPARC neurons reduced the content of CRFPVN and increased its accumulation in the median eminence but had no effect on corticosterone secretion induced by fasting. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that AgRPARC neurons are part of the neurocircuitry involved in the coupling of PVNCRF activity to changes in peripheral energy stores induced by prolonged fasting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Franciane Pereira de Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics, Paulista Medical School, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Gimena Fernandez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata, La Plata, 403, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luane da Guia Vieira
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14096-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Gugelmin Rosa
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14096-900, Brazil
| | - Taís do Nascimento
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14096-900, Brazil
| | - Suzelei de Castro França
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14096-900, Brazil
| | - Jose Donato
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Kristen R Vella
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and the Weill Center for Metabolic Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Jose Antunes-Rodrigues
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - André Souza Mecawi
- Department of Biophysics, Paulista Medical School, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Mario Perello
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata, La Plata, 403, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucila Leico Kagohara Elias
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Rorato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14096-900, Brazil. .,Department of Biophysics, Paulista Medical School, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04023-062, Brazil.
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Laiho L, Murray JF. The Multifaceted Melanocortin Receptors. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6608375. [PMID: 35700124 PMCID: PMC9214563 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The 5 known melanocortin receptors (MCs) have established physiological roles. With the exception of MC2, these receptors can behave unpredictably, and since they are more widely expressed than their established roles would suggest, it is likely that they have other poorly characterized functions. The aim of this review is to discuss some of the less well-explored aspects of the 4 enigmatic members of this receptor family (MC1,3-5) and describe how these are multifaceted G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors appear to be promiscuous in that they bind several endogenous agonists (products of the proopiomelanocortin [POMC] gene) and antagonists but with inconsistent relative affinities and effects. We propose that this is a result of posttranslational modifications that determine receptor localization within nanodomains. Within each nanodomain there will be a variety of proteins, including ion channels, modifying proteins, and other GPCRs, that can interact with the MCs to alter the availability of receptor at the cell surface as well as the intracellular signaling resulting from receptor activation. Different combinations of interacting proteins and MCs may therefore give rise to the complex and inconsistent functional profiles reported for the MCs. For further progress in understanding this family, improved characterization of tissue-specific functions is required. Current evidence for interactions of these receptors with a range of partners, resulting in modulation of cell signaling, suggests that each should be studied within the full context of their interacting partners. The role of physiological status in determining this context also remains to be characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Laiho
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joanne Fiona Murray
- Correspondence: J. F. Murray, PhD, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, 15 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9DX, UK.
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43
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Holt MK. The ins and outs of the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract: An overview of cellular populations and anatomical connections. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13132. [PMID: 35509189 PMCID: PMC9286632 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The body and brain are in constant two-way communication. Driving this communication is a region in the lower brainstem: the dorsal vagal complex. Within the dorsal vagal complex, the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) is a major first stop for incoming information from the body to the brain carried by the vagus nerve. The anatomy of this region makes it ideally positioned to respond to signals of change in both emotional and bodily states. In turn, the cNTS controls the activity of regions throughout the brain that are involved in the control of both behaviour and physiology. This review is intended to help anyone with an interest in the cNTS. First, I provide an overview of the architecture of the cNTS and outline the wide range of neurotransmitters expressed in subsets of neurons in the cNTS. Next, in detail, I discuss the known inputs and outputs of the cNTS and briefly highlight what is known regarding the neurochemical makeup and function of those connections. Then, I discuss one group of cNTS neurons: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-expressing neurons. GLP-1 neurons serve as a good example of a group of cNTS neurons, which receive input from varied sources and have the ability to modulate both behaviour and physiology. Finally, I consider what we might learn about other cNTS neurons from our study of GLP-1 neurons and why it is important to remember that the manipulation of molecularly defined subsets of cNTS neurons is likely to affect physiology and behaviours beyond those monitored in individual experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K. Holt
- Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and PharmacologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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Swanson JL, Chin PS, Romero JM, Srivastava S, Ortiz-Guzman J, Hunt PJ, Arenkiel BR. Advancements in the Quest to Map, Monitor, and Manipulate Neural Circuitry. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:886302. [PMID: 35719420 PMCID: PMC9204427 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.886302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural circuits and the cells that comprise them represent the functional units of the brain. Circuits relay and process sensory information, maintain homeostasis, drive behaviors, and facilitate cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Creating a functionally-precise map of the mammalian brain requires anatomically tracing neural circuits, monitoring their activity patterns, and manipulating their activity to infer function. Advancements in cell-type-specific genetic tools allow interrogation of neural circuits with increased precision. This review provides a broad overview of recombination-based and activity-driven genetic targeting approaches, contemporary viral tracing strategies, electrophysiological recording methods, newly developed calcium, and voltage indicators, and neurotransmitter/neuropeptide biosensors currently being used to investigate circuit architecture and function. Finally, it discusses methods for acute or chronic manipulation of neural activity, including genetically-targeted cellular ablation, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and over-expression of ion channels. With this ever-evolving genetic toolbox, scientists are continuing to probe neural circuits with increasing resolution, elucidating the structure and function of the incredibly complex mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Swanson
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pey-Shyuan Chin
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Juan M. Romero
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Snigdha Srivastava
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Joshua Ortiz-Guzman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Patrick J. Hunt
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Benjamin R. Arenkiel
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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Development of "Hunger Neurons" and the Unanticipated Relationship Between Energy Metabolism and Mother-Infant Interactions. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:907-914. [PMID: 35397878 PMCID: PMC10184517 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the course of a lifetime, the perinatal period plays an outsized role in the function of physiological systems. Here, we discuss how neurons that regulate energy metabolism contribute to the infant's relationship with the mother. We focus our discussion on Agrp neurons, which are located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. These neurons heavily regulate energy metabolism. Because offspring transition from a period of dependence on the caregiver to independence, we discuss the importance of the caregiver-offspring relationship for the function of Agrp neurons. We present evidence that in the adult, Agrp neurons motivate the animal to eat, while in the neonate, they motivate the offspring to seek the proximity of the caregiver. We specifically highlight the peculiarities in the development of Agrp neurons and how they relate to the regulation of metabolism and behavior over the course of a lifetime. In sum, this review considers the unique insights that ontogenetic studies can offer toward our understanding of complex biological systems, such as the regulation of energy metabolism and mother-infant attachment.
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46
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Kim JH, Kromm GH, Barnhill OK, Sperber J, Heuer LB, Loomis S, Newman MC, Han K, Gulamali FF, Legan TB, Jensen KE, Funderburk SC, Krashes MJ, Carter ME. A discrete parasubthalamic nucleus subpopulation plays a critical role in appetite suppression. eLife 2022; 11:e75470. [PMID: 35507386 PMCID: PMC9119672 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Food intake behavior is regulated by a network of appetite-inducing and appetite-suppressing neuronal populations throughout the brain. The parasubthalamic nucleus (PSTN), a relatively unexplored population of neurons in the posterior hypothalamus, has been hypothesized to regulate appetite due to its connectivity with other anorexigenic neuronal populations and because these neurons express Fos, a marker of neuronal activation, following a meal. However, the individual cell types that make up the PSTN are not well characterized, nor are their functional roles in food intake behavior. Here, we identify and distinguish between two discrete PSTN subpopulations, those that express tachykinin-1 (PSTNTac1 neurons) and those that express corticotropin-releasing hormone (PSTNCRH neurons), and use a panel of genetically encoded tools in mice to show that PSTNTac1 neurons play an important role in appetite suppression. Both subpopulations increase activity following a meal and in response to administration of the anorexigenic hormones amylin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and peptide YY (PYY). Interestingly, chemogenetic inhibition of PSTNTac1, but not PSTNCRH neurons, reduces the appetite-suppressing effects of these hormones. Consistently, optogenetic and chemogenetic stimulation of PSTNTac1 neurons, but not PSTNCRH neurons, reduces food intake in hungry mice. PSTNTac1 and PSTNCRH neurons project to distinct downstream brain regions, and stimulation of PSTNTac1 projections to individual anorexigenic populations reduces food consumption. Taken together, these results reveal the functional properties and projection patterns of distinct PSTN cell types and demonstrate an anorexigenic role for PSTNTac1 neurons in the hormonal and central regulation of appetite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H Kim
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Grace H Kromm
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | | | - Jacob Sperber
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Lauren B Heuer
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Sierra Loomis
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Matthew C Newman
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Kenneth Han
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Faris F Gulamali
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | - Theresa B Legan
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
| | | | - Samuel C Funderburk
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - Michael J Krashes
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesBethesdaUnited States
| | - Matthew E Carter
- Department of Biology, Williams CollegeWilliamstownUnited States
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Computational synthesis of cortical dendritic morphologies. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110586. [PMID: 35385736 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal morphologies provide the foundation for the electrical behavior of neurons, the connectomes they form, and the dynamical properties of the brain. Comprehensive neuron models are essential for defining cell types, discerning their functional roles, and investigating brain-disease-related dendritic alterations. However, a lack of understanding of the principles underlying neuron morphologies has hindered attempts to computationally synthesize morphologies for decades. We introduce a synthesis algorithm based on a topological descriptor of neurons, which enables the rapid digital reconstruction of entire brain regions from few reference cells. This topology-guided synthesis generates dendrites that are statistically similar to biological reconstructions in terms of morpho-electrical and connectivity properties and offers a significant opportunity to investigate the links between neuronal morphology and brain function across different spatiotemporal scales. Synthesized cortical networks based on structurally altered dendrites associated with diverse brain pathologies revealed principles linking branching properties to the structure of large-scale networks.
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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: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [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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Tran LT, Park S, Kim SK, Lee JS, Kim KW, Kwon O. Hypothalamic control of energy expenditure and thermogenesis. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:358-369. [PMID: 35301430 PMCID: PMC9076616 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00741-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Energy expenditure and energy intake need to be balanced to maintain proper energy homeostasis. Energy homeostasis is tightly regulated by the central nervous system, and the hypothalamus is the primary center for the regulation of energy balance. The hypothalamus exerts its effect through both humoral and neuronal mechanisms, and each hypothalamic area has a distinct role in the regulation of energy expenditure. Recent studies have advanced the understanding of the molecular regulation of energy expenditure and thermogenesis in the hypothalamus with targeted manipulation techniques of the mouse genome and neuronal function. In this review, we elucidate recent progress in understanding the mechanism of how the hypothalamus affects basal metabolism, modulates physical activity, and adapts to environmental temperature and food intake changes. The hypothalamus is a key regulator of metabolism, controlling resting metabolism, activity levels, and responses to external temperature and food intake. The balance between energy intake and expenditure must be tightly controlled, with imbalances resulting in metabolic disorders such as obesity or diabetes. Obin Kwon at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Ki Woo Kim at Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, both in South Korea, and coworkers reviewed how metabolism is regulated by the hypothalamus, a small hormone-producing brain region. They report that hormonal and neuronal signals from the hypothalamus influence the ratio of lean to fatty tissue, gender-based differences in metabolism, activity levels, and weight gain in response to food intake. They note that further studies to untangle cause-and-effect relationships and other genetic factors will improve our understanding of metabolic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Trung Tran
- Departments of Oral Biology and Applied Biological Science, BK21 Four, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Sohee Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Korea.,Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Seul Ki Kim
- Departments of Oral Biology and Applied Biological Science, BK21 Four, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Jin Sun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Korea.,Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Korea
| | - Ki Woo Kim
- Departments of Oral Biology and Applied Biological Science, BK21 Four, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Obin Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Korea. .,Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Korea.
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Leyrer-Jackson JM, Hood LE, Olive MF. Sex differences and the lack of effects of chemogenetic manipulation of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons on alcohol consumption in male and female mice. Brain Res 2022; 1786:147901. [PMID: 35367433 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147901] [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: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of alcohol. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons located within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ArcN) secrete multiple peptides associated with alcohol consumption, including β-endorphin (β-END), α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). In this study, we utilized chemogenetics to bidirectionally modulate ArcN POMC neurons to determine their role in alcohol and saccharin consumption and regional levels of POMC-derived peptides. Male and female POMC-cre mice were infused with viral vectors designed for cre-dependent expression of either excitatory and inhibitory DREADDs or a control vector into the ArcN. Following recovery, animals were allowed to consume alcohol or saccharin using the drinking-in-the-dark (DID) paradigm of binge-like intake for 4 consecutive days. Prior to the final test session, animals were injected with clozapine-N-oxide (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) for DREADD activation. Following the last DID session, animals were euthanized and the ArcN, VTA, amygdala and NAc were dissected and assessed for POMC peptide expression utilizing western blotting. We found that female mice consumed more alcohol than males during DID sessions 2-4, and that chemogenetic activation had no effect on alcohol or saccharin consumption in either sex. We found that β-END expression within the ArcN positively correlated with alcohol consumption. Given the molecular and functional heterogeneity of ArcN POMC neurons, future studies are needed to assess the effects of modulation of specific subpopulations of these neurons within the ArcN on consumption of rewarding substances such as alcohol and saccharin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren E Hood
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - M Foster Olive
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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