Regulation of Appetite and Obesity

Neuroanatomical organization and functional roles of PVN MC4R pathways in physiological and behavioral regulations

The paper maps PVNMC4R+ neural circuits and shows their role in thermogenesis, cardiovascular control, and behavioral changes beyond feeding.

Internal state dependent control of feeding behaviour via hippocampal ghrelin signalling.

This study investigates how ghrelin signaling in the ventral hippocampus influences feeding behavior by modulating specific neuronal circuits in mice.

Deletion of Stim1 in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus Kiss1 neurons potentiates synchronous GCaMP activity and protects against diet-induced obesity

This study shows that deleting Stim1 in Kiss1 neurons increases their excitability and protects against diet-induced obesity.

POMC neurons functional heterogeneity relies on mTORC1 signaling

The paper identifies functional heterogeneity in POMC neurons and shows that mTORC1 signaling regulates their distinct roles in feeding behavior.

Rhythmic neuronal activities of the rat nucleus of the solitary tract are impaired by short-term high fat diet - implications for daily control of satiety by the brainstem

The paper investigates how short-term high-fat diet affects circadian rhythms and neuronal activity in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract, impacting satiety control.

The orexigenic force of olfactory palatable food cues in sated rats

This study shows that olfactory cues of palatable food increase meal frequency and chow overconsumption in sated rats, involving the orexigenic ghrelin system in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

Hypothalamic Overexpression of Neurosecretory Protein GL Leads to Obesity in Mice

This study overexpresses NPGL in mice to induce obesity, showing increased food intake, body mass, and lipid metabolism gene expression.

VTA MC3R neurons control feeding in an activity and sex-dependent manner in mice

This study shows that VTA MC3R neurons regulate feeding with sex- and activity-dependent effects, where activation reduces feeding in females and inhibition reduces feeding in males.

Neurotensin neurons in the central extended amygdala control energy balance

This study identifies Neurotensin-expressing neurons in the mouse IPAC that regulate energy balance by modulating feeding behavior and physical activity.

Neural network modelling reveals changes in directional connectivity between cortical and hypothalamic regions in obesity

The paper uses neural network modeling to show increased top-down excitation from the insula to the hypothalamus and reduced prefrontal cortex excitation in obesity, regardless of hunger state.

Hypothalamic perineuronal nets are regulated by sex and dietary interventions

This study shows that hypothalamic perineuronal nets (PNNs) are regulated by sex, gonadal hormones, and dietary interventions in a region-specific manner.

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

The paper shows that estrogen enhances activity in melanocortin neurons, reducing sedentary behavior and linking estrogen signaling to metabolic regulation.

High-fat diet induced loss of GABAergic inhibition decouples intrinsic and synaptic excitability in AgRP neurons

This study shows that high-fat diet causes AgRP neurons to lose GABAergic inhibition, leading to persistent hyperexcitability despite increased inhibitory input.

Prevalence and expressivity of loss of function mutations in the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) in a UK birth cohort

The paper identifies the prevalence and phenotypic impact of loss of function mutations in the MC4R gene in a UK birth cohort, finding a 0.30% carrier rate with significant effects on body weight and BMI.

Cross-Species Analysis Defines the Conservation of Anatomically-Segregated VMH Neuron Populations

The paper identifies conserved VMH neuron populations across species using TRAP-seq and snRNA-seq data, defining six major neuron classes with distinct anatomical and genetic features.

A survey of the mouse hindbrain in the fed and fasted state using single-nucleus RNA sequencing

The paper uses single-nucleus RNA sequencing to analyze the mouse hindbrain's AP and NTS in fed and fasted states, identifying transcriptional changes and receptor expression patterns relevant to obesity therapies.

Dorsomedial hypothalamic BDNF neurons integrate thermal afferent signals to control energy expenditure

The paper shows that BDNF neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus integrate thermal signals to regulate energy expenditure and thermogenesis during cold defense.

A molecularly defined insular cortex --> central amygdala circuit mediates conditioned overconsumption of food.

The paper identifies a circuit between the insular cortex and central amygdala that promotes overconsumption by suppressing satiety signals through nitric oxide synthase-1 neurons.

Protein appetite drives macronutrient-related differences in ventral tegmental area neural activity

This study shows that protein restriction increases VTA neural activity during protein consumption compared to carbohydrate in rats, highlighting the role of VTA circuits in protein appetite.

Central and peripheral GLP-1 systems independently and additively suppress eating

The paper shows that central and peripheral GLP-1 systems independently suppress eating, and PPGNTS neuron activation addsitively enhances this effect with GLP-1 agonists.

Gfral-expressing Neurons Suppress Food Intake via Aversive Pathways

This study identifies GFRAL-expressing neurons in the hindbrain that suppress food intake through aversive pathways by responding to non-meal-related signals.

Defective Autophagy in Sf1 Neurons Perturbs the Metabolic Response to Fasting and Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction

This study shows that autophagy in Sf1 neurons of the VMH is essential for metabolic responses to fasting and mitochondrial function.

Lateral Hypothalamic GABAergic neurons encode and potentiate sucrose palatability

This study identifies LHAVgat+ GABAergic neurons in mice that encode and potentiate sucrose palatability by modulating licking responses and consumption behavior.

Discrete TrkB-expressing neurons of the dorsomedial hypothalamus regulate feeding and thermogenesis

This study identifies distinct roles of TrkB-expressing neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus for regulating thermogenesis and feeding through specific neural projections.

Bursting firing in ventromedial hypothalamic neurons exerts dual control of anxiety-like behavior and energy expenditure

This study shows that burst firing in dmVMH neurons controls anxiety-like behavior and energy expenditure through Cav3.1-mediated mechanisms in a chronic stress model.

Cold-induced hyperphagia requires AgRP-neuron activation in mice

The paper shows that AgRP-neuron activation is required for cold-induced hyperphagia in mice.

Inhibition of Mitochondrial Fission and iNOS in the Dorsal Vagal Complex Protects from Overeating and Weight Gain

This study shows that inhibiting mitochondrial fission and iNOS in the dorsal vagal complex reduces body weight and food intake in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Leptin suppresses development of GLP-1 Inputs to the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus

This study shows that leptin reduces excitatory input from PPG neurons to PVH GLP-1 receptor neurons, diminishing visceral sensory impact on these neurons.

The single pass membrane protein MRAP2 regulates energy homeostasis by promoting primary cilia localization of the G protein-coupled receptor MC4R

This study shows that MRAP2 is essential for MC4R's localization to primary cilia and its role in regulating energy homeostasis and body weight.

Neural Mechanism of Hunger Gated Food-seeking and Evaluating

This study identifies LHLepR neurons as key to food-seeking and evaluating behaviors, showing how hunger gates motivation through neural circuits.