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
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.
