Estrogen Drives Melanocortin Neurons To Increase Spontaneous Activity and Reduce Sedentary Behavior

Abstract

Estrogen depletion in rodents and humans leads to inactivity, unhealthy fat accumulation, and diabetes1,2, underscoring the conserved metabolic benefits of estrogen that inevitably decline with aging. In rodents, the preovulatory surge in 17{beta}-estradiol (E2) temporarily allows energy expenditure to outpace energy intake, thus coordinating increased physical activity with peak sexual receptivity. To investigate how estrogen rebalances energy allocation in females, we examine estrogen receptor alpha (ER) signaling in the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHvl)3-7. We uncover a small population of VMHvlER neurons expressing the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) that integrates estrogen and melanocortin signals and projects to arousal centers in the hippocampus and hindbrain, enabling bursts of physical activity. ER recruitment to the Mc4r gene promotes upregulation of Mc4r in VMHvl neurons during the preovulatory surge or following E2 treatment. We leveraged three models to stimulate VMHvlMC4R neurons, restore MC4R signaling in the VMHvl of hyperphagic MC4R null females, or increase Mc4r levels in the VMHvl by CRISPR-mediated activation. All models increase spontaneous activity, whereas silencing VMHvlMC4R neurons blunts normal activity. Direct activation of the VMHvlMC4R node overrides the inactivity and hypometabolism following hormone depletion. These data extend the impact of MC4R signaling - the most common cause of monogenic human obesity8 - beyond the regulation of food intake. Our findings also rationalize reported sex differences in melanocortin signaling, including the greater disease severity of MC4R insufficiency in women9. The hormone-dependent node identified here illuminates the power of estrogen in motivating behavior during the female reproductive cycle and for maintaining an active lifestyle.