Probes for VGAT

Restoring the control of food intake is the key to obesity management and prevention. The arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus is extensively being studied as a potential anti-obesity target. Animal studies showed that neuropeptide FF (NPFF) reduces food intake by its action in neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons of the hypothalamic ARC, but the detailed mode of action observed in human neurons is missing, due to the lack of a human-neuron-based model for pharmacology testing. Here, we validated and utilized a human-neural-stem-cell-based (hNSC) model of ARC to test the effects of NPFF on cellular pathways and neuronal activity. We found that in the human neurons, decreased cAMP levels by NPFF resulted in a reduced rate of cytoplasmic calcium oscillations, indicating an inhibition of ARC NPY neurons. This suggests the therapeutic potential of NPFFR2 in obesity. In addition, we demonstrate the use of human-stem-cell-derived neurons in pharmacological applications and the potential of this model to address functional aspects of human hypothalamic neurons.

Innate vocal sounds such as laughing, screaming or crying convey one's feelings to others. In many species, including humans, scaling the amplitude and duration of vocalizations is essential for effective social communication1-3. In mice, female scent triggers male mice to emit innate courtship ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs)4,5. However, whether mice flexibly scale their vocalizations and how neural circuits are structured to generate flexibility remain largely unknown. Here we identify mouse neurons from the lateral preoptic area (LPOA) that express oestrogen receptor 1 (LPOAESR1 neurons) and, when activated, elicit the complete repertoire of USV syllables emitted during natural courtship. Neural anatomy and functional data reveal a two-step, di-synaptic circuit motif in which primary long-range inhibitory LPOAESR1 neurons relieve a clamp of local periaqueductal grey (PAG) inhibition, enabling excitatory PAG USV-gating neurons to trigger vocalizations. We find that social context shapes a wide range of USV amplitudes and bout durations. This variability is absent when PAG neurons are stimulated directly; PAG-evoked vocalizations are time-locked to neural activity and stereotypically loud. By contrast, increasing the activity of LPOAESR1 neurons scales the amplitude of vocalizations, and delaying the recovery of the inhibition clamp prolongs USV bouts. Thus, the LPOA disinhibition motif contributes to flexible loudness and the duration and persistence of bouts, which are key aspects of effective vocal social communication.

Torpor is a naturally occurring, hypometabolic, hypothermic state engaged by a wide range of animals in response to imbalance between the supply and demand for nutrients. Recent work has identified some of the key neuronal populations involved in daily torpor induction in mice, in particular projections from the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) to the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). The DMH plays a role in thermoregulation, control of energy expenditure, and circadian rhythms, making it well positioned to contribute to the expression of torpor. We used activity dependent genetic TRAPing techniques to target DMH neurons that were active during natural torpor bouts in female mice. Chemogenetic reactivation of torpor-TRAPed DMH neurons in calorie-restricted mice promoted torpor, resulting in longer and deeper torpor bouts. Chemogenetic inhibition of torpor-TRAPed DMH neurons did not block torpor entry, suggesting a modulatory role for the DMH in the control of torpor. This work adds to the evidence that the POA and the DMH form part of a circuit within the mouse hypothalamus that controls entry into daily torpor.SIGNIFICANCEDaily heterotherms such as mice employ torpor to cope with environments in which the supply of metabolic fuel is not sufficient for the maintenance of normothermia. Daily torpor involves reductions in body temperature, as well as active suppression of heart rate and metabolism. How the central nervous system controls this profound deviation from normal homeostasis is not known, but a projection from the preoptic area to the dorsomedial hypothalamus has recently been implicated. We demonstrate that the dorsomedial hypothalamus contains neurons that are active during torpor. Activity in these neurons promotes torpor entry and maintenance, but their activation alone does not appear to be sufficient for torpor entry.

Aguti-related protein (AGRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), which co-express neuropeptide Y (NPY), are key regulators of feeding and energy homeostasis. However, the precise role NPY has within these neurons and the specific pathways that it control are still unclear. In this article, we aimed to determine what aspects of feeding behaviour and energy homeostasis are controlled by NPY originating from AGRP neurons and which Y-receptor pathways are utilised to fulfil this function.Novel conditional Agrpcre/+;Npylox/lox knockout mice were generated and comprehensively phenotyped, both under standard chow as well as high-fat-diet conditions. Designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) technology was used to assess the altered responses on feeding and energy homeostasis control in the absence of NPY in these neurons. Rescue experiments utilising Npy1r- and Npy2r-selective NPY ligands were performed to assess which component of the energy homeostasis control is dependent by which specific Y-receptor pathway.We show that the specific deletion of Npy only in AGRP neurons leads to a paradoxical mild obese phenotype associated with reduced locomotion and energy expenditure and increased feeding and Respiratory Quotient (RQ) that remain elevated under a positive energy balance. The activation of Npy-deficient AGRP neurons via DREADD's is still able to drive feeding, yet with a delayed onset. Additionally, Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) treatment reduces locomotion without impacting on energy expenditure. Rescue experiments re-introducing Npy1r- and Npy2r-selective NPY ligands revealed that the increased feeding and RQ are mostly driven by Npy1r, whereas energy expenditure and locomotion are controlled by Npy2r signalling.Together, these results demonstrate that NPY originating from AGRP neurons is not only critical to initiate but also for continuously driving feeding, and we for the first time identify which Y-receptor controls which pathway.

The arcuate nucleus (ArcN) is an integrative hub for the regulation of energy balance, reproduction, and arterial pressure (AP), all of which are influenced by Angiotensin II (AngII); however, the cellular mechanisms and downstream neurocircuitry are unclear. Here we show that ArcN AngII increases AP in female rats via two phases, both of which are mediated via activation of AngII type 1 receptors (AT1aR): initial vasopressin-induced vasoconstriction, followed by slowly developing increases in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and heart rate (HR). In male rats, ArcN AngII evoked a similarly slow increase in SNA, but the initial pressor response was variable. In females, the effects of ArcN AngII varied during the estrus cycle, with significant increases in SNA, HR, and AP occurring during diestrus and estrus, but only increased AP during proestrus. Pregnancy markedly increased the expression of AT1aR in the ArcN with parallel substantial AngII-induced increases in SNA and MAP. In both sexes, the sympathoexcitation relied on suppression of tonic ArcN sympathoinhibitory Neuropeptide Y inputs, and activation of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) projections, to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Few or no NPY or POMC neurons expressed the AT1aR, suggesting that AngII increases AP and SNA at least in part indirectly via local interneurons, which express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and VGat (i.e. GABAergic). ArcN TH neurons release GABA locally, and central AT1aR and TH neurons mediate stress responses; therefore, we propose that TH AT1aR neurons are well situated to locally coordinate the regulation of multiple modalities within the ArcN in response to stress.SIGNIFICANCEThe arcuate nucleus (ArcN) is an integrative hub for the regulation of energy balance, reproduction, and arterial pressure (AP), all of which are influenced by Angiotensin II (AngII). Here we show that ArcN AngII activates AT1aR to increase AP in male and female rats by slowly increasing sympathetic nerve activity. In females, ArcN AngII also evoked an initial pressor response mediated by vasopressin-induced vasoconstriction. Pregnant and estrus females responded more than males, in association with higher ArcN AT1aR expression. AT1aR were identified in ArcN interneurons that express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and GABA. Since brain AT1aR and TH mediate stress responses, ArcN AT1aR TH neurons are well situated to locally coordinate autonomic, hormonal, and behavioral responses to stress.