Regulation of motivation for food by neuromedin U in the paraventricular nucleus and the dorsal raphe nucleus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Motivation for high-fat food is thought to contribute to excess caloric intake in obese individuals. A novel regulator of motivation for food may be neuromedin U (NMU), a highly-conserved neuropeptide that influences food intake. Although these effects of NMU have primarily been attributed to signaling in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), NMU has also been found in other brain regions involved in both feeding behavior and motivation. We investigate the effects of NMU on motivation for food and food intake, and identify the brain regions mediating these effects.

Methods

The motivational state for a particular reinforcer (e.g., high-fat food) can be assessed using a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement under which an increasing number of

SUBMITTER: McCue DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5209284 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature