Somatostatin Neurons in the Basal Forebrain Promote High-Calorie Food Intake

Cell Rep. 2017 Jul 5;20(1):112-123. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.06.007.

Abstract

Obesity has become a global issue, and the overconsumption of food is thought to be a major contributor. However, the regulatory neural circuits that regulate palatable food consumption remain unclear. Here, we report that somatostatin (SOM) neurons and GABAergic (VGAT) neurons in the basal forebrain (BF) play specific roles in regulating feeding. Optogenetic stimulation of BF SOM neurons increased fat and sucrose intake within minutes and promoted anxiety-like behaviors. Furthermore, optogenetic stimulation of projections from BF SOM neurons to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) selectively resulted in fat intake. In addition, activation of BF VGAT neurons rapidly induced general food intake and gnawing behaviors. Whole-brain mapping of inputs and outputs showed that BF SOM neurons form bidirectional connections with several brain areas important in feeding and regulation of emotion. Collectively, these results suggest that BF SOM neurons play a selective role in hedonic feeding.

Keywords: anxiety; basal forebrain; hedonic feeding; homeostatic feeding; somatostatin; ventral pallidum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Sucrose / adverse effects
  • Food Preferences*
  • GABAergic Neurons / metabolism
  • GABAergic Neurons / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Prosencephalon / cytology
  • Prosencephalon / physiology*
  • Somatostatin / genetics
  • Somatostatin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Dietary Sucrose
  • Somatostatin