Elevated activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system promotes feeding during pregnancy in mice

Abstract

The pregnancy period is accompanied by increased feeding behavior to accommodate the elevated energy demands associated with fetal growth and development. However, the underlying neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms mediating increased feeding during pregnancy are largely unknown. Here, we utilize a combination of fiber photometry, chemogenetics, and mouse behavioral assays to characterize altered feeding behavior during pregnancy in mice. We uncover that pregnancy increases the activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system during both homeostatic and hedonic feeding behavior in mice. VTA dopamine neurons are ultimately required for promoting increased hedonic feeding during pregnancy as inhibition of these cells selectively reduces acute high fat diet intake in pregnant mice. Further, pregnant mice exhibit increased sensitivity to food deprivation, an effect which requires activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system. Together, these findings provide a circuit basis mediating altered hedonic feeding behavior and sensitivity to negative energy balance during pregnancy in mice. HighlightsO_LIVTA dopamine neurons show enhanced responsivity to palatable food during pregnancy C_LIO_LIVTA dopamine neurons show enhanced responsivity to negative energy balance during pregnancy C_LIO_LINucleus accumbens dopamine is increased during homeostatic and hedonic feeding in pregnant mice C_LIO_LIVTA dopamine neuron activity regulates hedonic eating and fast-induced refeeding in pregnant mice C_LI