Feeding neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive states in mice

Megan G. Massa; Rachel L. Scott; Alexandra L. Cara; Laura R. Cortes; Paul B. Vander; Norma P. Sandoval; Jae W. Park; Sahara L. Ali; Leandro M. Velez; Huei-Bin Wang; Shomik S. Ati; Bethlehem Tesfaye; Karen Reue; J. Edward van Veen; Marcus M. Seldin; Stephanie M. Correa

iScience (Oct 2023)

Feeding neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive states in mice

Megan G. Massa,
Rachel L. Scott,
Alexandra L. Cara,
Laura R. Cortes,
Paul B. Vander,
Norma P. Sandoval,
Jae W. Park,
Sahara L. Ali,
Leandro M. Velez,
Huei-Bin Wang,
Shomik S. Ati,
Bethlehem Tesfaye,
Karen Reue,
J. Edward van Veen,
Marcus M. Seldin,
Stephanie M. Correa

Affiliations

Megan G. Massa: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Neuroscience Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Rachel L. Scott: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Alexandra L. Cara: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Laura R. Cortes: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Paul B. Vander: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Norma P. Sandoval: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Jae W. Park: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Sahara L. Ali: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Leandro M. Velez: Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Huei-Bin Wang: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Shomik S. Ati: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Bethlehem Tesfaye: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Karen Reue: Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
J. Edward van Veen: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Marcus M. Seldin: Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Stephanie M. Correa: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 26, no. 10
p. 107918

Abstract

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Summary: Balance between metabolic and reproductive processes is important for survival, particularly in mammals that gestate their young. How the nervous system coordinates this balance is an active area of study. Herein, we demonstrate that somatostatin (SST) neurons of the tuberal hypothalamus alter feeding in a manner sensitive to metabolic and reproductive states in mice. Whereas chemogenetic activation of SST neurons increased food intake across sexes, ablation decreased food intake only in female mice during proestrus. This ablation effect was only apparent in animals with low body mass. Fat transplantation and bioinformatics analysis of SST neuronal transcriptomes revealed white adipose as a key modulator of these effects. These studies indicate that SST hypothalamic neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive cues by responding to varying levels of circulating estrogens to modulate feeding differentially based on energy stores. Thus, gonadal steroid modulation of neuronal circuits can be context dependent and gated by metabolic status.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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