Overconsumption of food and reduced physical activity cause obesity, but limited understanding of the neuronal circuits regulating these behaviors has hindered development of therapies. Since the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of the brain controls the motivation to ingest and move it has been studied for potential to support weight loss, but most LHA neurons promote ingestion and weight gain. In contrast, during the last funding period we identified LHA neurons expressing the neuropeptide neurotensin (Nts) that restrain feeding and promote energy expenditure to decrease weight. Curiously, activating LHA Nts neurons also invokes a burst of water intake that acutely causes weight gain, but once drinking normalizes then feeding suppression and increased energy expenditure lead to weight loss. Taken together, these data suggest that preventing dipsic behavior and biasing specifically for LHA Nts-mediated feeding restraint and physical activity might improve the degree of weight loss. This could be possible, based on our preliminary data that LHA Nts neurons densely project to two separate sites in the brain that are implicated in the control of drinking and feeding, respectively. These data led to the central hypothesis of this renewal application: LHA Nts neurons coordinate feeding suppression and drinking via the VTA and LPO, respectively, which requires signaling via neurotensin receptor-1 (NtsR1). To investigate this we will use tract tracers and in vivo calcium imaging to define the specific LHA cells and circuits that organize feeding vs. drinking, and hence precise neural targets to mediate weight loss behaviors (Aim 1). To define the functions of Nts projections to the VTA vs. the LPO we will optogenetically stimulate LHA Nts terminals in each site, thereby revealing if there are dedicated circuits sufficient to direct feeding vs. drinking (Aim 2). We will then define the necessity of Nts signaling via NtsR1 in the VTA or LPO for energy balance, and the ability of these NtsR1 neurons to mediate weight loss without adverse effects (Aim 3). Taken together, these studies will define the circuits, signals and behaviors by which LHA Nts neurons mediate weight loss, suggesting where and how to target future pharmacological therapies to treat obesity.

Public Health Relevance

The obesity pandemic is propelled by individuals? overconsumption of food and decreased physical activity. We identified a specific group of neurotensin-expressing neurons that modify these behaviors to support weight loss. Our work will reveal the precise mechanisms by which neurotensin signaling controls feeding and activity, which can inform development of new therapies to safely and effectively treat obesity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK103808-07
Application #
10102230
Study Section
Integrative Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes Study Section (IPOD)
Program Officer
Cooke, Brad
Project Start
2014-09-15
Project End
2024-01-31
Budget Start
2021-02-01
Budget End
2022-01-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
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Woodworth, Hillary L; Brown, Juliette A; Batchelor, Hannah M et al. (2018) Determination of neurotensin projections to the ventral tegmental area in mice. Neuropeptides 68:57-74
Woodworth, Hillary L; Perez-Bonilla, Patricia A; Beekly, Bethany G et al. (2018) Identification of Neurotensin Receptor Expressing Cells in the Ventral Tegmental Area across the Lifespan. eNeuro 5:
Woodworth, Hillary L; Batchelor, Hannah M; Beekly, Bethany G et al. (2017) Neurotensin Receptor-1 Identifies a Subset of Ventral Tegmental Dopamine Neurons that Coordinates Energy Balance. Cell Rep 20:1881-1892
Woodworth, Hillary L; Beekly, Bethany G; Batchelor, Hannah M et al. (2017) Lateral Hypothalamic Neurotensin Neurons Orchestrate Dual Weight Loss Behaviors via Distinct Mechanisms. Cell Rep 21:3116-3128
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Brown, Juliette A; Woodworth, Hillary L; Leinninger, Gina M (2015) To ingest or rest? Specialized roles of lateral hypothalamic area neurons in coordinating energy balance. Front Syst Neurosci 9:9