
Open access
Date
2020-06-17Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 33 times in
Web of Science
Cited 36 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics
Abstract
Calorie-rich diets induce hyperphagia and promote obesity, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. We find that short-term high-fat-diet (HFD) feeding of mice activates prepronociceptin (PNOC)-expressing neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC). PNOCARC neurons represent a previously unrecognized GABAergic population of ARC neurons distinct from well-defined feeding regulatory AgRP or POMC neurons. PNOCARC neurons arborize densely in the ARC and provide inhibitory synaptic input to nearby anorexigenic POMC neurons. Optogenetic activation of PNOCARC neurons in the ARC and their projections to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis promotes feeding. Selective ablation of these cells promotes the activation of POMC neurons upon HFD exposure, reduces feeding, and protects from obesity, but it does not affect food intake or body weight under normal chow consumption. We characterize PNOCARC neurons as a novel ARC neuron population activated upon palatable food consumption to promote hyperphagia. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000422272Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
NeuronVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Cell PressOrganisational unit
03742 - Zeilhofer, Hanns U. / Zeilhofer, Hanns U.
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 33 times in
Web of Science
Cited 36 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics