Modulation of SF1 neuron activity co-ordinately regulates both feeding behaviour and associated emotional states
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Feeding requires the integration of homeostatic drives with emotional states relevant to food procurement in potentially hostile environments. The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates feeding and anxiety, but how these are controlled in a concerted manner remains unclear. Using pharmacogenetic, optogenetic, and calcium imaging approaches with a battery of behavioral assays, we demonstrate that VMH steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) neurons constitute a nutritionally sensitive switch, modulating the competing motivations of feeding and avoidance of potentially dangerous environments. Acute alteration of SF1 neuronal activity alters food intake via changes in appetite and feeding-related behaviors, including locomotion, exploration, anxiety, and valence. In turn, intrinsic SF1 neuron activity is low during feeding and increases with both feeding termination and stress. Our findings identify SF1 neurons as a key part of the neurocircuitry that controls both feeding and related affective states, giving potential insights into the relationship between disordered eating and stress-associated psychological disorders in humans.
Date Issued
2017-12-19
Date Acceptance
2017-11-27
Citation
Cell Reports, 2017, 21 (12), pp.3559-3572
ISSN
2211-1247
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
3559
End Page
3572
Journal / Book Title
Cell Reports
Volume
21
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Cell Biology
VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEUS
ENERGY HOMEOSTASIS
PREDATOR FEAR
BODY-WEIGHT
DEPRESSION
OBESITY
VMH
CIRCUITS
OPTOGENETICS
METAANALYSIS
Ventromedial hypothalamus
affective state
chemogenetics
feeding
optogenetics
steroidogenic factor 1
stress response
Publication Status
Published