Lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neurons drive threat-induced overeating associated with a negative emotional state.

ABSTRACT: Psychological stressors, like the nearby presence of a predator, can be strong enough to induce physiological/hormonal alterations, leading to appetite changes. However, little is known about how threats can alter feeding-related hypothalamic circuit functions. Here, we found that proenkephalin (Penk)-expressing lateral hypothalamic (LH^Penk) neurons of mice exposed to predator scent stimulus (PSS) show sensitized responses to high-fat diet (HFD) eating, whereas silencing of the same neurons normalizes PSS-induced HFD overconsumption associated with a negative emotional state. Downregulation of endogenous enkephalin peptides in the LH is crucial for inhibiting the neuronal and behavioral changes developed after PSS exposure. Furthermore, elevated corticosterone after PSS contribu

SUBMITTER: You IJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10613253 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature