But it's delicious!
Amygdala neurons force mice to eat harmful but delicious food
Ekaterina Petrova, PCR.news
Mice, like humans, usually find food with a high fat and sugar content very tasty. They can eat such delicacies for pleasure, and not for the sake of survival — this is called hedonistic nutrition. Scientists from the USA have found out that this behavior is caused by a group of neurons in the amygdala — the area of the brain responsible for strong emotions, such as fear.
The culprits were neurotensin-expressing neurons of the interstitial nucleus of the posterior edge of the anterior commissure (neurotensin-expressing neurons in the interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commission, IPAC Nts). Experiments have shown that these neurons are activated when an animal eats delicious fatty foods, rather than regular food. Energy deficiency did not cause activation of this group of neurons. Scientists also found out that the activation of these neurons does not depend on the nutritional value of food — the main thing is that it is delicious. And the tastier the food, the more strongly the neurons react.
Optogenetic activation of IPAC Nts neurons triggered hedonistic nutrition and contributed to obesity. When the team turned off these neurons, fatty and sweet foods stopped attracting mice, while they drank the same way as before. Prolonged inactivation of neurons caused an increase in physical activity of the animals, which led to long-term weight loss and improved metabolic health.
"They just ate happily and stayed healthy,— says study leader Professor Bo Li. "Not only did they stop gaining weight, but they also seemed much healthier overall."
The researchers found that the IPAC Nts neurons are associated with several areas of the brain responsible for nutrition and energy homeostasis, as well as with areas that play a role in the perception of tastes and smells.
"Medications that are currently used to regulate weight can cause serious side effects. Therefore, a more focused approach is needed. Figuring out the brain mechanisms that control nutrition is important for developing better treatment options for people who are struggling to control their weight," comments Professor Lee.
Article by Furlan et al. Neurotensin neurons in the extended amygdala control dietary choice and energy homeostasis is published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
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