Identifying and mapping functional connections of feeding control neurons in the

描述（由申请人提供）：下丘脑和后脑中的神经元群在一个更大的分布式网络中形成节点，以控制哺乳动物摄食行为的多个方面。该项目的目标是识别和绘制对控制进食行为的循环激素作出反应的拱廊下丘脑回路。该项目的核心是功能性神经解剖学技术的新组合：神经束追踪、宽视场和多荧光成像、基于参考图谱的制图以及在线神经元信息学数据库中的数据沉积。这些方法被用于弓形下丘脑，因为它仍然是一个相对未知的、定义不清的大脑结构，在其他方面对摄食行为至关重要。了解这种结构的基本电路组织，通过其完整的三维扩展，对于科学家能够进一步实验操纵该结构中选定的神经元亚群来研究摄食控制的各个方面至关重要。反过来，这有望在大脑中产生新的靶点，适用于设计基本疗法和治疗方法，以帮助预防或减轻肥胖、暴饮暴食和代谢紊乱的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neuron populations in the hypothalamus and hindbrain form nodes within a larger distributed network to control multiple aspects of feeding behavior in mammals. The goal of this project is to identify and map arcade hypothalamic circuits that respond to circulating hormones that control feeding behavior. At the heart of this project lies a novel combination of functional neuroanatomical techniques: tract-tracing, wide-field and multi- fluorescence imaging, reference atlas-based mapping, and data deposition within an online neuron informatics database. These methods are being brought to bear on the arcuate hypothalamus, because it 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, through its complete three dimensional expanse, 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 novl targets within the brain suitable for designing rationale therapeutics and treatments to help prevent or mitigate the effects of obesity, overeating, and metabolic disorders.