Role of orexin signalling in energy homeostasis and reward processing (A04)

神经肽食欲素仅在外侧下丘脑中表达，并调节进食行为和能量稳态。此外，食欲素能神经元与大脑的多巴胺能和多巴胺能系统相互作用，并介导奖赏寻求行为。食欲素通过食欲素1型和2型受体起作用，这些受体在奖赏回路中差异表达。该项目的目标是描述食欲素神经元的下游神经元靶位点，并确定参与能量稳态的稳态和享乐控制的相应受体信号通路。

The neuropeptide orexin is expressed exclusively in the lateral hypothalamus and regulates feeding behaviour and energy homeostasis. In addition, orexinergic neurons interact with dopaminergic and serotonergic systems of the brain and mediate reward-seeking behaviour. Orexins act via orexin type-1 and type-2 receptors which are differentially expressed within the reward circuitry. The goal of this project is to describe downstream neuronal target sites of orexin neurons and to identify the corresponding receptor signalling pathways involved in the homeostatic and hedonic control of energy homeostasis.