Parabrachial Foxp2-expressing neurons are necessary for sustaining core body temperature in the cold
Fillan S. Grady,
Shantelle A. Graff,
McKenna M. Warnock,
Silvia Gasparini,
Margaret M. Tish,
Yuxi Li,
Gordon F. Buchanan,
Jon M. Resch,
Joel C. Geerling
Affiliations
Fillan S. Grady
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Shantelle A. Graff
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
McKenna M. Warnock
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Silvia Gasparini
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Margaret M. Tish
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Yuxi Li
Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Gordon F. Buchanan
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Jon M. Resch
Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Joel C. Geerling
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: Cold environmental temperature is a threat to survival. Sustaining core body temperature in the cold requires a dynamic set of adaptive responses known as “cold defense,” but the neural circuitry orchestrating these responses remains unclear. We identified a cluster of Atoh1-derived, Foxp2-expressing glutamatergic neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PB) that are activated by exposing mice to cold environmental temperature. Eliminating Foxp2-expressing PB neurons caused body temperature to plummet in the cold. Mice lacking these neurons had normal wakefulness, movement and appetite at room temperature, and their autonomic cold-defense responses remained intact. However, these mice had reduced metabolism and locomotor activity in the cold, and thermal discrimination was impaired. Our results indicate that thermosensory information relayed through Foxp2-expressing PB neurons is essential for sensing and surviving a cold environment.
