Ghrelin signaling in the ventral hippocampus stimulates learned and motivational aspects of feeding via PI3K-Akt signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The stomach-derived hormone ghrelin drives higher-order feeding processes related to food reward and food seeking via central nervous system signaling at its receptor (GHSR1A). The specific nuclei mediating these effects are only partially understood. Here, we use a rat model to examine whether ghrelin signaling in the ventral subregion of the hippocampus (VHPC), a brain substrate of recent interest in energy balance control, affects learned and motivational aspects of feeding behavior.

Methods

The effects of VHPC ghrelin administration were examined on feeding-relevant behavioral paradigms, including meal pattern analysis, operant lever pressing for sucrose, and conditioned stimulus-induced feeding. The intracellular signaling and downstream neuronal pathways sti

SUBMITTER: Kanoski SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3498600 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature