岛叶调控摄食行为的环路基础及该环路在神经性厌食的作用

摄食行为受到复杂的神经环路调控，包括以下丘脑为主的稳态调控，以及诸多参与情感、奖赏、记忆力等功能的皮层及皮层下脑区的非稳态调控。岛叶是脑内整合内、外感受以及情感意识的神经枢纽。人脑功能磁共振研究提示岛叶活动与摄食行为密切相关。但是，目前还不清楚岛叶如何调控摄食行为。我们利用病毒示踪技术建立了小鼠岛叶前部与下丘脑外侧区的纤维联系，光遗传或药理遗传手段激活右侧岛叶前部或右侧岛叶皮层与下丘脑外侧区的纤维联系，能抑制小鼠摄食行为，并引起小鼠厌恶性情绪。此外，我们还发现激活左侧岛叶前部或者同时激活双侧岛叶前部对小鼠摄食行为没有影响。因此，我们希望能够通过进一步研究，探索右侧岛叶前部与下丘脑外侧区这一通路是否特异性参与摄食行为的调控，岛叶对下丘脑调控表现出的偏侧性差异的分子及环路基础，以及这条通路是否参与某些病理情况，如厌食症等。这一研究将有助于我们从分子到环路全面了解摄食行为的情绪性调控机制。

Feeding behavior is regulated by complex neural circuits, including the hypothalamus-dependent homeostatic mechanism, and non-homeostatic mechanism mediated by many cortical and subcortical brain regions involved in emotion, reward, memory and other functions. Insular cortex is an important hinge that integrates the internal, external and emotional consciousness in the brain. Functional brain magnetic resonance imaging of human suggests that insular activity is closely related to feeding behavior. However, it is not clear how the insula regulates feeding behavior. We have established the interaction between anterior insula cortex and lateral hypothalamic area using virus tracer technique in mice. In addition, optogenetic or pharmacological stimulation of the right anterior insula or the projection of right insular cortex to the lateral hypothalamic area inhibits feeding behavior and cause aversive emotions in mice. Furthermore, we observed that activation of the left anterior insula or bilateral anterior insula cortex has no effect on feeding behavior in mice. Therefore, we plan to explore the exact role of right anterior insula in feeding behavior, the neural circuit underlying the lateralized difference of the insular cortex, and its role in some pathological conditions, such as anorexia nervosa. This study will help us to further understand the intrinsic circuitry mechanism of the emotion-regulated feeding behavior.