Ghrelin modulation of reward mechanisms

Ghrelin 调节奖励机制

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-06248
• 负责人: Abizaid, Alfonso
• 金额: $ 2.33万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=684288
• 关键词: Ghrelin; modulation; reward; mechanisms

Animals including humans eat not only because they are hungry, but also because experience with certain foods is particularly pleasurable. In this case, these foods are over-consumed in spite of containing more calories than those used for energy on a given day. Ghrelin, a hormone produced by the stomach, is also one that seems to promote the over-consumption of these kinds of food through the stimulation of dopamine cells associated with reward mechanisms in the brain. In the current proposal, we propose studies to determine the mechanisms by which ghrelin modulates reward processes to promote food intake, and potentially behaviors associated with other stimuli that are rewarding including sex and the intake of drugs of abuse. Furthermore, the proposed work will promote innovative approaches to modulate the secretion of this hormone, and the interaction between ghrelin receptor activation, and that of other neurotransmitter receptors as a means to understand how it influences the brain to increase reward seeking behaviors. To do this, we will use a combination of behavioral, molecular and genetic techniques and transgenic models that allow for the determination of ghrelin function in specific sets of cells within the brain.

包括人类在内的动物吃东西不仅是因为它们饿了，还因为某些食物的体验特别令人愉快。在这种情况下，这些食物被过度消耗，尽管含有更多的热量比那些用于能量在给定的一天。胃饥饿素是一种由胃产生的激素，它似乎也是一种通过刺激与大脑中的奖励机制相关的多巴胺细胞来促进这些食物过度消费的激素。在目前的提案中，我们建议研究确定ghrelin调节奖励过程以促进食物摄入的机制，以及与其他奖励刺激相关的潜在行为，包括性和滥用药物的摄入。此外，拟议的工作将促进创新方法来调节这种激素的分泌，以及ghrelin受体激活与其他神经递质受体之间的相互作用，以了解它如何影响大脑以增加奖励寻求行为。为此，我们将使用行为，分子和遗传技术以及转基因模型的组合，以确定脑内特定细胞组中ghrelin的功能。