Hepatic Vagal Afferents Convey Clock-Dependent Signals to Regulate Circadian Food Intake

Area of Science:

• Metabolic health
• Chronobiology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Circadian desynchrony from shiftwork or jetlag negatively impacts metabolic health.
• The mechanisms transmitting synchronous/desynchronous signals between tissues are not fully understood.

Approach:

• Investigated the role of the hepatic vagal afferent nerve (HVAN) in signaling liver clock dysfunction to the brain.
• Examined the effects of HVAN ablation and hepatic branch vagotomy on food intake patterns and body weight.

Key Points:

• Liver molecular clock dysfunction is communicated to the brain via the HVAN.
• Ablation of the HVAN corrects altered food intake patterns caused by circadian desynchrony.
• Hepatic vagotomy prevents diet-induced food intake disruptions and reduces weight gain.

Conclusions:

• The HVAN acts as a critical feedback pathway for maintaining circadian food intake patterns.
• Liver-brain synchrony, mediated by the HVAN, is essential for regulating energy homeostasis.
• The hepatic vagus nerve represents a potential therapeutic target for obesity associated with circadian rhythm disruption.