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Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Real-time Analysis of Gut-brain Neural Communication: Cortex wide Calcium Dynamics in Response to Intestinal Glucose Stimulation
Published on: December 29, 2023
Glucose-responsive neurons of the paraventricular thalamus control sucrose-seeking behavior
Gwenaël Labouèbe1, Benjamin Boutrel2, David Tarussio1
1Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Feeding behavior is governed by homeostatic needs and motivational drive to obtain palatable foods. Here, we identify a population of glutamatergic neurons in the paraventricular thalamus of mice that express the glucose transporter Glut2 (encoded by Slc2a2) and project to the nucleus accumbens. These neurons are activated by hypoglycemia and, in freely moving mice, their activation by optogenetics or Slc2a2 inactivation increases motivated sucrose-seeking but not saccharin-seeking behavior. These neurons may control sugar overconsumption in obesity and diabetes.
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