Food cue regulation of AGRP hunger neurons guides learning.

ABSTRACT: Agouti-related peptide (AGRP)-expressing neurons are activated by fasting-this causes hunger^1-4, an aversive state that motivates the seeking and consumption of food^5,6. Eating returns AGRP neuron activity towards baseline on three distinct timescales: rapidly and transiently following sensory detection of food cues^6-8, slowly and longer-lasting in response to nutrients in the gut^9,10, and even more slowly and permanently with restoration of energy balance^9,11. The rapid regulation by food cues is of particular interest as its neurobiological basis and purpose are unknown. Given that AGRP neuron activity is aversive⁶, the sensory cue-linked reductions in activity could function to guide behaviour. To evaluate this, we first

SUBMITTER: Berrios J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8522184 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature