Interrogating brain circuits that control feeding caused by fasting or by craving

项目摘要 下丘脑中的神经元群体在一个更大的分布式网络中形成节点，以控制多个神经元。 哺乳动物的进食行为。这个项目的目标是在功能上询问新映射的 控制进食行为的下丘脑中继电路。我们将使用基于病毒的道追踪，光遗传学， 化学遗传学、摄食行为分析、宽视野和多荧光成像以及参考图谱- 为了确定下丘脑中的这些中继电路是否介导进食， 通过一夜禁食或渴望奖励食物。我们将存款所有映射和探测的脑回路 在线神经信息学数据库中的位置。下丘脑仍然是一个相对未知的 以及对进食行为至关重要的脑结构的不明确。基本知识 这种结构的电路组织及其功能/行为验证对于科学家能够 为了进一步实验性地操纵该结构中选定的神经元亚群，以研究各种 饲养管理方面。反过来，这有望在大脑中产生适合设计的新目标。 基本原理疗法和治疗，以帮助预防或减轻肥胖的影响，暴饮暴食，和代谢 紊乱

PROJECT ABSTRACT Neuron populations in the hypothalamus form nodes within a larger distributed network to control multiple aspects of feeding behavior in mammals. The goal of this project is to functionally interrogate newly mapped hypothalamic relay circuits that control feeding behavior. We will employ viral-based tract tracing, optogenetics, chemogenetics, behavioral analyses of feeding, wide-field and multifluorescence imaging, and reference atlas- based mapping; to determine whether these relay circuits in the hypothalamus mediate feeding triggered either by an overnight fast or by craving for rewarding foods. We will deposit all mapped and probed brain circuit locations within an online neuroinformatics database. The hypothalamus has remained a relatively uncharted and poorly defined brain structure that is otherwise critical for feeding behavior. Knowledge of the basic circuit organization of this structure, and its functional/behavioral validation, is critical for scientists to be able to further experimentally manipulate selected sub-populations of neurons in this structure to study various aspects of feeding control. This, in turn, is expected to yield novel targets within the brain suitable for designing rationale therapeutics and treatments to help prevent or mitigate the effects of obesity, overeating, and metabolic disorders.