Operant Training for Highly Palatable Food Alters Translating Messenger RNA in Nucleus Accumbens D₂ Neurons and Reveals a Modulatory Role of Ncdn.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Highly palatable food triggers behavioral responses including strong motivation. These effects involve the reward system and dopamine neurons, which modulate neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The molecular mechanisms underlying the long-lasting effects of highly palatable food on feeding behavior are poorly understood.

Methods

We studied the effects of 2-week operant conditioning of mice with standard or isocaloric highly palatable food. We investigated the behavioral responses and dendritic spine modifications in the NAc. We compared the translating messenger RNA in NAc neurons identified by the type of dopamine receptors they express, depending on the kind of food and training. We tested the consequences of invalidation of an abundant downregulated gene, N

SUBMITTER: Montalban E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11059129 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature