Metabolic sensing in AgRP neurons integrates homeostatic state with dopamine signalling in the striatum

Alex Reichenbach, Rachel E. Clarke, Romana Stark, Sarah Haas Lockie, Mathieu Mequinion, Harry Dempsey, Sasha Rawlinson, Felicia Reed, Tara Sepehrizadeh, Michael Deveer, Astrid C. Munder, Juan Nunez-Iglesias, David C. Spanswick, Randall Mynatt, Alexxai V. Kravitz, Christopher V. Dayas, Robyn Brown, Zane B. Andrews

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons increase motivation for food, however, whether metabolic sensing of homeostatic state in AgRP neurons potentiates motivation by inter-acting with dopamine reward systems is unexplored. As a model of impaired metabolic-sensing, we used the AgRP-specific deletion of carnitine acetyltransferase (Crat) in mice. We hypothesised that metabolic sensing in AgRP neurons is required to increase motivation for food reward by modulating accumbal or striatal dopamine release. Studies confirmed that Crat deletion in AgRP neurons (KO) impaired ex vivo glucose-sensing, as well as in vivo responses to peripheral glucose injection or repeated palatable food presentation and consumption. Impaired metabolic-sensing in AgPP neurons reduced acute dopamine release (seconds) to palatable food consumption and during operant responding, as assessed by GRAB-DA photometry in the nucleus accumbens, but not the dorsal striatum. Impaired metabolic-sensing in AgRP neurons suppressed radiolabelled 18F-fDOPA accumulation after ~30 min in the dorsal striatum but not the nucleus accumbens. Impaired metabolic sensing in AgRP neurons suppressed motivated operant responding for sucrose rewards during fasting. Thus, metabolic-sensing in AgRP neurons is required for the appropriate temporal integration and transmission of homeostatic hunger-sensing to dopamine signalling in the striatum.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere72668
JournaleLife
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Metabolic sensing in AgRP neurons integrates homeostatic state with dopamine signalling in the striatum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this