In today's obesogenic environment many individuals struggle to regulate caloric intake, which leads to obesity and associated comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes). The exposure to endogenous (e.g., gustatory cues) and exogenous (e.g., environmental food-paired cues) signals associated with meal intake can, through learning, influence both the regulation and dysregulation of appetite control. As obesity rates continue to rise, there is a critical need to develop effective strategies to combat this epidemic. This includes the elucidation of neurobiological and psychological variables underlying the learned effects that influence eating behaviors. To this end, I propose that the lateral hypothalamus (LH) feeding signal Melanin Concentrating Hormone (MCH) acts as a modulator of predictive regulation and gates associations between anticipatory food cues and reward signals. In doing so, I anticipate that LH MCH neurons will modulate the regulation of blood glucose, and the disruption to appetite control that follows either exposure to intense artificial sweeteners, or environmental cues associated with food. Thus, the proposed research will significantly advance understanding of the psychobiological variables that contribute to: metabolic regulation, weight gain, obesity and metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes). In the proposed research, I will combine DREADD and optogenetic techniques with sophisticated behavioral and ingestive learning approaches in mice to address two specific aims.
In Aim 1, I will examine LH MCH modulation over cephalic responding and the detrimental influences over glucoregulation that occur following prolonged artificial sweetener consumption.
In Aim 2, I will examine the psychological mechanisms and neurobiological circuitry underlying LH MCH modulation of overeating in response to environmental food-paired cues.

Public Health Relevance

In today's obesogenic environment many individuals struggle to control caloric intake, which leads to obesity and associated comorbidities. These studies examine the hypothalamic feeding signal Melanin Concentrating Hormone and its influence on modulating the regulation of blood glucose; and the disruption to appetite control that follows either exposure to intense artificial sweeteners, or environmental cues associated with food. Thus, findings from this application will identify the variables that contribute to appetite control, weight gain, obesity and associated metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK111475-02
Application #
9447178
Study Section
Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section (BRLE)
Program Officer
Yanovski, Susan Z
Project Start
2017-03-06
Project End
2022-02-28
Budget Start
2018-03-01
Budget End
2019-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824