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Updated: May 1, 2026
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Published on: April 28, 2016
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Ghrelin acts as an interface between physiological state and phasic dopamine signaling.
Jackson J Cone1, James E McCutcheon, Mitchell F Roitman
1Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612 and Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607.
Summary
Gut hormone ghrelin modulates dopamine spikes in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroendocrinology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Dopamine spikes in the nucleus accumbens are crucial for food reward.
- The influence of physiological state and hormones on food-evoked dopamine spikes is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the gut hormone ghrelin affects dopamine spikes evoked by food.
- To explore the role of orexin neurons in mediating ghrelin's effects on dopamine and food intake.
Main Methods:
- Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in awake, behaving rats.
- Pharmacological manipulation of central ghrelin receptors and orexin receptors.
- Infusions into the lateral ventricle, lateral hypothalamus, and ventral tegmental area.
Main Results:
- Lateral ventricular ghrelin increased food-evoked dopamine spikes; ghrelin receptor antagonism suppressed them.
- Ghrelin's effect was mediated via the lateral hypothalamus and orexin neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area.
- Orexin-A potentiated dopamine spikes, and orexin receptor blockade attenuated ghrelin-induced feeding.
- Food restriction increased dopamine spike magnitude, independent of pharmacological manipulation.
Conclusions:
- Physiological state, particularly ghrelin signaling, regulates food-evoked dopamine spikes.
- A novel pathway involving central ghrelin, lateral hypothalamus orexin neurons, and ventral tegmental area orexin receptors influences food reinforcement and behavior.
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