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Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats
Published on: August 24, 2016
Food cues and ghrelin recruit the same neuronal circuitry
G van der Plasse1, M Merkestein, M C M Luijendijk
1Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.vanderplasse@umcutrecht.nl
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|October 17, 2012
Summary
Food cues trigger food anticipatory activity (FAA) in rats, involving medial hypothalamic neurons. Ghrelin, but not leptin, signaling in this area modulates FAA, with specific neurons integrating cue and ghrelin signals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Endocrinology
Background:
- Food cues trigger food anticipatory activity (FAA), a preparatory behavior for nutrient utilization.
- The medial hypothalamus is implicated in FAA, responding to hormones like leptin and ghrelin.
- Mechanisms of FAA regulation by neuronal activity and hormonal modulation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate medial hypothalamic neuronal responses to cue-signaled food availability in rats.
- To determine the modulatory roles of ghrelin and leptin in regulating FAA.
Main Methods:
- In vivo electrophysiology recorded neuronal activity in the medial hypothalamus of freely moving rats.
- A light cue signaled upcoming food delivery within a random feeding schedule.
- Ghrelin and leptin were administered systemically to assess their effects.
Main Results:
- The food-predictive cue significantly increased neuronal activity on a population level and induced FAA.
- A subset of medial hypothalamic neurons showed correlated responses to both ghrelin and FAA.
- These neurons are suggested to be part of the FAA regulatory network.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin signaling in the medial hypothalamus plays a role in FAA regulation.
- Leptin signaling does not appear to modulate FAA in this context.
- Specific neurons in the medial hypothalamus integrate food cue information and ghrelin signals to drive FAA.
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