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Sajjaviriya C, Fujianti, Azuma M, Tsuchiya H, Koshimizu TA. Computer vision analysis of mother-infant interaction identified efficient pup retrieval in V1b receptor knockout mice. Peptides 2024; 177:171226. [PMID: 38649033 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Close contact between lactating rodent mothers and their infants is essential for effective nursing. Whether the mother's effort to retrieve the infants to their nest requires the vasopressin-signaling via V1b receptor has not been fully defined. To address this question, V1b receptor knockout (V1bKO) and control mice were analyzed in pup retrieval test. Because an exploring mother in a new test cage randomly accessed to multiple infants in changing backgrounds over time, a computer vision-based deep learning analysis was applied to continuously calculate the distances between the mother and the infants as a parameter of their relationship. In an open-field, a virgin female V1bKO mice entered fewer times into the center area and moved shorter distances than wild-type (WT). While this behavioral pattern persisted in V1bKO mother, the pup retrieval test demonstrated that total distances between a V1bKO mother and infants came closer in a shorter time than with a WT mother. Moreover, in the medial preoptic area, parts of the V1b receptor transcripts were detected in galanin- and c-fos-positive neurons following maternal stimulation by infants. This research highlights the effectiveness of deep learning analysis in evaluating the mother-infant relationship and the critical role of V1b receptor in pup retrieval during the early lactation phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chortip Sajjaviriya
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0489, Japan
| | - Fujianti
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0489, Japan
| | - Morio Azuma
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0489, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Tsuchiya
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0489, Japan
| | - Taka-Aki Koshimizu
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0489, Japan.
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Liu R, Xiang H, Liu C, Jiang Q, Liang Y, Wang G, Wang L, Sun Y, Yang G. Lateral Habenula Neurons Signal Cold Aversion and Participate in Cold Aversion. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:771-784. [PMID: 38102342 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04076-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The aversion to cold is a fundamental motivated behavior that contributes to the body temperature homeostasis. However, the involvement of the lateral habenula (LHb) as a regulatory hub for negative emotions in this physiological process remains uninvestigated. In this study, we demonstrate an elevation in the population activity of LHb neurons following exposure to cold stimuli. Additionally, we establish the necessity of Vglut2-expressing neurons within the LHb for the encoding of cold aversion behaviors. Furthermore, we have elucidated a neural circuit from excitatory neurons of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) to LHb that plays a crucial role in this progress. Manipulation of the DMH-LHb circuit has a significant impact on cold aversion behavior in mice. It is worth noting that this circuit does not exhibit any noticeable effects on autonomic thermoregulation or depression-like behavior. The identification of these neural mechanisms involved in behavioral thermoregulation provides a promising avenue for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Xiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuyi Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanchao Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangzheng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Urology (Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Scientific Research in Urology), The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Human Anatomy, Binzhou Medical College, 346 Guanhai Rd, Yantai City, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Youzheng Street 23, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Brain Science, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
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Kaplan HS, Logeman BL, Zhang K, Santiago C, Sohail N, Naumenko S, Ho Sui SJ, Ginty DD, Ren B, Dulac C. Sensory Input, Sex, and Function Shape Hypothalamic Cell Type Development. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.23.576835. [PMID: 38328205 PMCID: PMC10849564 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.576835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian behavior and physiology undergo dramatic changes in early life. Young animals rely on conspecifics to meet their homeostatic needs, until weaning and puberty initiate nutritional independence and sex-specific social interactions, respectively. How neuronal populations regulating homeostatic functions and social behaviors develop and mature during these transitions remains unclear. We used paired transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility profiling to examine the developmental trajectories of neuronal populations in the hypothalamic preoptic region, where cell types with key roles in physiological and behavioral control have been identified1-6. These data reveal a remarkable diversity of developmental trajectories shaped by the sex of the animal, and the location and behavioral or physiological function of the corresponding cell types. We identify key stages of preoptic development, including the perinatal emergence of sex differences, postnatal maturation and subsequent refinement of signaling networks, and nonlinear transcriptional changes accelerating at the time of weaning and puberty. We assessed preoptic development in various sensory mutants and find a major role for vomeronasal sensing in the timing of preoptic cell type maturation. These results provide novel insights into the development of neurons controlling homeostatic functions and social behaviors and lay ground for examining the dynamics of these functions in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harris S. Kaplan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brandon L. Logeman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Epigenomics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Current address: Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Celine Santiago
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 220 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Noor Sohail
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Serhiy Naumenko
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Newborn Screening Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shannan J. Ho Sui
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David D. Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 220 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bing Ren
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Epigenomics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Catherine Dulac
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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4
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Deem JD, Tingley D, Watts CA, Ogimoto K, Bryan CL, Phan BAN, Damian V, Bruchas MR, Scarlett JM, Schwartz MW, Morton GJ. High-fat diet feeding disrupts the coupling of thermoregulation to energy homeostasis. Mol Metab 2023; 78:101835. [PMID: 37931788 PMCID: PMC10681932 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Preserving core body temperature across a wide range of ambient temperatures requires adaptive changes of thermogenesis that must be offset by corresponding changes of energy intake if body fat stores are also to be preserved. Among neurons implicated in the integration of thermoregulation with energy homeostasis are those that express both neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) (referred to herein as AgRP neurons). Specifically, cold-induced activation of AgRP neurons was recently shown to be required for cold exposure to increase food intake in mice. Here, we investigated how consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) impacts various adaptive responses to cold exposure as well as the responsiveness of AgRP neurons to cold. METHODS To test this, we used immunohistochemistry, in vivo fiber photometry and indirect calorimetry for continuous measures of core temperature, energy expenditure, and energy intake in both chow- and HFD-fed mice housed at different ambient temperatures. RESULTS We show that while both core temperature and the thermogenic response to cold are maintained normally in HFD-fed mice, the increase of energy intake needed to preserve body fat stores is blunted, resulting in weight loss. Using both immunohistochemistry and in vivo fiber photometry, we show that although cold-induced AgRP neuron activation is detected regardless of diet, the number of cold-responsive neurons appears to be blunted in HFD-fed mice. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that HFD-feeding disrupts the integration of systems governing thermoregulation and energy homeostasis that protect body fat mass during cold exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Deem
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David Tingley
- Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina A Watts
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kayoko Ogimoto
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Caeley L Bryan
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bao Anh N Phan
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vincent Damian
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jarrad M Scarlett
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael W Schwartz
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gregory J Morton
- University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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5
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Gui Y, Dahir NS, Wu Y, Downing G, Sweeney P, Cone RD. Melanocortin-3 receptor expression in AgRP neurons is required for normal activation of the neurons in response to energy deficiency. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113188. [PMID: 37792535 PMCID: PMC10728878 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) is a negative regulator of the central melanocortin circuitry via presynaptic expression on agouti-related protein (AgRP) nerve terminals, from where it regulates GABA release onto secondary MC4R-expressing neurons. However, MC3R knockout (KO) mice also exhibit defective behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to fasting. Here, we demonstrate that MC3R KO mice exhibit defective activation of AgRP neurons in response to fasting, cold exposure, or ghrelin while exhibiting normal inhibition of AgRP neurons by sensory detection of food in the ad libitum-fed state. Using a conditional MC3R KO model, we show that the control of AgRP neuron activation by fasting and ghrelin requires the specific presence of MC3R within AgRP neurons. Thus, MC3R is a crucial player in the responsiveness of the AgRP soma to both hormonal and neuronal signals of energy need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Gui
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA
| | - Naima S Dahir
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA
| | - Yanan Wu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA
| | - Griffin Downing
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA
| | - Patrick Sweeney
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801-3633, USA
| | - Roger D Cone
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, USA.
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6
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Tao C, Zhang GW, Huang JJ, Li Z, Tao HW, Zhang LI. The medial preoptic area mediates depressive-like behaviors induced by ovarian hormone withdrawal through distinct GABAergic projections. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1529-1540. [PMID: 37524978 PMCID: PMC11037266 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01397-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluctuations in reproductive hormone levels are associated with mood disruptions in women, such as in postpartum and perimenopausal depression. However, the neural circuit mechanisms remain unclear. Here we report that medial preoptic area (MPOA) GABAergic neurons mediate multifaceted depressive-like behaviors in female mice after ovarian hormone withdrawal (HW), which can be attributed to downregulation of activity in Esr1 (estrogen receptor-1)-expressing GABAergic neurons. Enhancing activity of these neurons ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in HW-treated mice, whereas reducing their activity results in expression of these behaviors. Two separate subpopulations mediate different symptoms: a subpopulation projecting to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) mediates anhedonia and another projecting to the periaqueductal gray mediates immobility. These projections enhance activity of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA and serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe, respectively, with increased release of dopamine and serotonin, possibly through disinhibition mechanisms. Thus, the MPOA is a hub that mediates depressive-like behaviors resulting from transitions in reproductive hormone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Tao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Guang-Wei Zhang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Junxiang J Huang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Graduate Programs in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhong Li
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Huizhong W Tao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Li I Zhang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Center for Neural Circuits and Sensory Processing Disorders, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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7
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Lal NK, Le P, Aggarwal S, Zhang A, Wang K, Qi T, Pang Z, Yang D, Nudell V, Yeo GW, Banks AS, Ye L. Xiphoid nucleus of the midline thalamus controls cold-induced food seeking. Nature 2023; 621:138-145. [PMID: 37587337 PMCID: PMC10482681 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06430-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining body temperature is calorically expensive for endothermic animals1. Mammals eat more in the cold to compensate for energy expenditure2, but the neural mechanism underlying this coupling is not well understood. Through behavioural and metabolic analyses, we found that mice dynamically switch between energy-conservation and food-seeking states in the cold, the latter of which are primarily driven by energy expenditure rather than the sensation of cold. To identify the neural mechanisms underlying cold-induced food seeking, we used whole-brain c-Fos mapping and found that the xiphoid (Xi), a small nucleus in the midline thalamus, was selectively activated by prolonged cold associated with elevated energy expenditure but not with acute cold exposure. In vivo calcium imaging showed that Xi activity correlates with food-seeking episodes under cold conditions. Using activity-dependent viral strategies, we found that optogenetic and chemogenetic stimulation of cold-activated Xi neurons selectively recapitulated food seeking under cold conditions whereas their inhibition suppressed it. Mechanistically, Xi encodes a context-dependent valence switch that promotes food-seeking behaviours under cold but not warm conditions. Furthermore, these behaviours are mediated by a Xi-to-nucleus accumbens projection. Our results establish Xi as a key region in the control of cold-induced feeding, which is an important mechanism in the maintenance of energy homeostasis in endothermic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj K Lal
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Phuong Le
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samarth Aggarwal
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alan Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kristina Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tianbo Qi
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zhengyuan Pang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Victoria Nudell
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alexander S Banks
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Li Ye
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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8
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Gui Y, Dahir NS, Downing G, Sweeney P, Cone RD. Cell autonomous regulation of the activation of AgRP neurons by the melanocortin-3 receptor. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.28.546874. [PMID: 37425887 PMCID: PMC10327035 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) is a negative regulator of the central melanocortin circuitry via presynaptic expression on AgRP nerve terminals, from where it regulates GABA release onto secondary MC4R-expressing neurons. Hence, animals lacking MC3R (MC3R KO) exhibit hypersensitivity to MC4R agonists. However, MC3R KO mice also exhibit defective behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to fasting. Here, we demonstrate that MC3R KO mice exhibit defective activation of AgRP neurons in response to fasting and cold exposure, while exhibiting normal inhibition of AgRP neurons by sensory detection of food. Further, using an AgRP-specific MC3R knockout model, we show that the control of AgRP neuron activation by MC3R is cell-autonomous. One mechanism underlying this involves the response to ghrelin, which is also blunted in mice with AgRP-specific deletion of the MC3R. Thus, MC3R is a crucial player in the control of energy homeostasis by the central melanocortin system, not only acting presynaptically on AgRP neurons, but via AgRP cell-autonomous regulation of fasting- and cold-induced neuronal activation as well.
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9
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Lal NK, Le P, Aggarwal S, Zhang A, Wang K, Qi T, Pang Z, Yang D, Nudell V, Yeo GW, Banks AS, Ye L. Xiphoid nucleus of the midline thalamus controls cold-induced food seeking. bioRxiv 2023:2023.03.16.533067. [PMID: 36993706 PMCID: PMC10055253 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.16.533067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining body temperature is calorically expensive for endothermic animals. Mammals eat more in the cold to compensate for energy expenditure, but the neural mechanism underlying this coupling is not well understood. Through behavioral and metabolic analyses, we found that mice dynamically switch between energy conservation and food-seeking states in the cold, the latter of which is primarily driven by energy expenditure rather than the sensation of cold. To identify the neural mechanisms underlying cold-induced food seeking, we use whole-brain cFos mapping and found that the xiphoid (Xi), a small nucleus in the midline thalamus, was selectively activated by prolonged cold associated with elevated energy expenditure but not with acute cold exposure. In vivo calcium imaging showed that Xi activity correlates with food-seeking episodes in cold conditions. Using activity-dependent viral strategies, we found that optogenetic and chemogenetic stimulation of cold-activated Xi neurons recapitulated cold-induced feeding, whereas their inhibition suppressed it. Mechanistically, Xi encodes a context-dependent valence switch promoting food-seeking behaviors in cold but not warm conditions. Furthermore, these behaviors are mediated by a Xi to nucleus accumbens projection. Our results establish Xi as a key region for controlling cold-induced feeding, an important mechanism for maintaining energy homeostasis in endothermic animals.
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10
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Shin S, You IJ, Jeong M, Bae Y, Wang XY, Cawley ML, Han A, Lim BK. Early adversity promotes binge-like eating habits by remodeling a leptin-responsive lateral hypothalamus-brainstem pathway. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:79-91. [PMID: 36510113 PMCID: PMC9829538 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01208-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early-life trauma (ELT) is a risk factor for binge eating and obesity later in life, yet the neural circuits that underlie this association have not been addressed. Here, we show in mice that downregulation of the leptin receptor (Lepr) in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and its effect on neural activity is crucial in causing ELT-induced binge-like eating and obesity upon high-fat diet exposure. We also found that the increased activity of Lepr-expressing LH (LHLepr) neurons encodes sustained binge-like eating in ELT mice. Inhibition of LHLepr neurons projecting to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray normalizes these behavioral features of ELT mice. Furthermore, activation of proenkephalin-expressing ventrolateral periaqueductal gray neurons, which receive inhibitory inputs from LHLepr neurons, rescues ELT-induced maladaptive eating habits. Our results identify a circuit pathway that mediates ELT-induced maladaptive eating and may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for binge eating and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sora Shin
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - In-Jee You
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Minju Jeong
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yeeun Bae
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Xiao-Yun Wang
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mikel Leann Cawley
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Abraham Han
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA
- FBRI Center for Neurobiology Research, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Byung Kook Lim
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Qian S, Yan S, Pang R, Zhang J, Liu K, Shi Z, Wang Z, Chen P, Zhang Y, Luo T, Hu X, Xiong Y, Zhou Y. A temperature-regulated circuit for feeding behavior. Nat Commun 2022; 13. [PMID: 35869064 PMCID: PMC9307622 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31917-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractBoth rodents and primates have evolved to orchestrate food intake to maintain thermal homeostasis in coping with ambient temperature challenges. However, the mechanisms underlying temperature-coordinated feeding behavior are rarely reported. Here we find that a non-canonical feeding center, the anteroventral and periventricular portions of medial preoptic area (apMPOA) respond to altered dietary states in mice. Two neighboring but distinct neuronal populations in apMPOA mediate feeding behavior by receiving anatomical inputs from external and dorsal subnuclei of lateral parabrachial nucleus. While both populations are glutamatergic, the arcuate nucleus-projecting neurons in apMPOA can sense low temperature and promote food intake. The other type, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH)-projecting neurons in apMPOA are primarily sensitive to high temperature and suppress food intake. Caspase ablation or chemogenetic inhibition of the apMPOA→PVH pathway can eliminate the temperature dependence of feeding. Further projection-specific RNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization identify that the two neuronal populations are molecularly marked by galanin receptor and apelin receptor. These findings reveal unrecognized cell populations and circuits of apMPOA that orchestrates feeding behavior against thermal challenges.
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Wang H, Li F, Zheng X, Meng L, Chen M, Hui Y, Li Y, Xie K, Zhang J, Guo G. Social defeat drives hyperexcitation of the piriform cortex to induce learning and memory impairment but not mood-related disorders in mice. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:380. [PMID: 36088395 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02151-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical studies have shown that social defeat is an important cause of mood-related disorders, accompanied by learning and memory impairment in humans. The mechanism of mood-related disorders has been widely studied. However, the specific neural network involved in learning and memory impairment caused by social defeat remains unclear. In this study, behavioral test results showed that the mice induced both learning and memory impairments and mood-related disorders after exposure to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). c-Fos immunofluorescence and fiber photometry recording confirmed that CaMKIIα expressing neurons of the piriform cortex (PC) were selectively activated by exposure to CSDS. Next, chemogenetics and optogenetics were performed to activate PC CaMKIIα expressing neurons, which showed learning and memory impairment but not mood-related disorders. Furthermore, chemogenetic inhibition of PC CaMKIIα expressing neurons significantly alleviated learning and memory impairment induced by exposure to CSDS but did not relieve mood-related disorders. Therefore, our data suggest that the overactivation of PC CaMKIIα expressing neurons mediates CSDS-induced learning and memory impairment, but not mood-related disorders, and provides a potential therapeutic target for learning and memory impairment induced by social defeat.
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Sun J, Yuan Y, Wu X, Liu A, Wang J, Yang S, Liu B, Kong Y, Wang L, Zhang K, Li Q, Zhang S, Yuan T, Xu TL, Huang J. Excitatory SST neurons in the medial paralemniscal nucleus control repetitive self-grooming and encode reward. Neuron 2022; 110:3356-3373.e8. [PMID: 36070748 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) is conceptualized as a means of coping with stress. However, the neurological mechanism by which repetitive behaviors affect anxiety regulation is unclear. Here, we identify that the excitatory somatostatin-positive neurons in the medial paralemniscal nucleus (MPLSST neurons) in mice promote self-grooming and encode reward. MPLSST neurons display prominent grooming-related neuronal activity. Loss of function of MPLSST neurons impairs both self-grooming and post-stress anxiety alleviation. Activation of MPLSST neurons is rewarding and sufficient to drive reinforcement by activating dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and eliciting dopamine release. The neuropeptide SST facilitates the rewarding impact of MPLSST neurons. MPLSST neuron-mediated self-grooming is triggered by the input from the central amygdala (CeA). Our study reveals a dual role of CeA-MPLSST-VTADA circuit in self-grooming and post-stress anxiety regulation and conceptualizes MPLSST neurons as an interface linking the stress and reward systems in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Sun
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiaohua Wu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Anqi Liu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jingjie Wang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yalei Kong
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lizhao Wang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qian Li
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Siyu Zhang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Tifei Yuan
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tian-Le Xu
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ju Huang
- Center for Brain Science of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
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Abstract
How dopamine signaling regulates biological rhythms is an area of emerging interest. Here we review experiments focused on delineating dopamine signaling in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, nucleus accumbens, and dorsal striatum to mediate a range of biological rhythms including photoentrainment, activity cycles, rest phase eating of palatable food, diet-induced obesity, and food anticipatory activity. Enthusiasm for causal roles for dopamine in the regulation of circadian rhythms, particularly those associated with food and other rewarding events, is warranted. However, determining that there is rhythmic gene expression in dopamine neurons and target structures does not mean that they are bona fide circadian pacemakers. Given that dopamine has such a profound role in promoting voluntary movements, interpretation of circadian phenotypes associated with locomotor activity must be differentiated at the molecular and behavioral levels. Here we review our current understanding of dopamine signaling in relation to biological rhythms and suggest future experiments that are aimed at teasing apart the roles of dopamine subpopulations and dopamine receptor expressing neurons in causally mediating biological rhythms, particularly in relation to feeding, reward, and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijun Tang
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Dina R. Assali
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Ali D. Güler
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Andrew D. Steele
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States
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15
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Feng C, Wang Y, Zha X, Cao H, Huang S, Cao D, Zhang K, Xie T, Xu X, Liang Z, Zhang Z. Cold-sensitive ventromedial hypothalamic neurons control homeostatic thermogenesis and social interaction-associated hyperthermia. Cell Metab 2022; 34:888-901.e5. [PMID: 35675799 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Homeostatic thermogenesis is an essential protective feature of endotherms. However, the specific neuronal types involved in cold-induced thermogenesis remain largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and in situ hybridization, we screened for cold-sensitive neurons and found preprodynorphin (PDYN)-expressing cells in the dorsal medial region of the ventromedial hypothalamus (dmVMH) to be a candidate. Subsequent in vivo calcium recording showed that cold temperature activates dmVMHPdyn neurons, whereas hot temperature suppresses them. In addition, optogenetic activation of dmVMHPdyn neurons increases the brown adipose tissue and core body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, whereas optogenetic inhibition shows opposite effects, supporting their role in homeostatic thermogenesis. Furthermore, we found that dmVMHPdyn neurons are linked to known thermoregulatory circuits. Importantly, dmVMHPdyn neurons also show activation during mouse social interaction, and optogenetic inhibition suppresses social interaction and associated hyperthermia. Together, our study describes dual functions of dmVMHPdyn neurons that allow coordinated regulation of body temperature and social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhang Feng
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xi Zha
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Huateng Cao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shajin Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dongdong Cao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Kaiwei Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tianyuan Xie
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Zhifeng Liang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China.
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Kasuga R, Shiraki C, Horikawa R, Yoshimura R, Kurganov E, Miyata S. Role of TRPM8 in cold avoidance behaviors and brain activation during innocuous and nocuous cold stimuli. Physiol Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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