Publication Date
7-24-2024
Journal
Journal of Neuroscience
DOI
10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2192-23.2024
PMID
38897723
PMCID
PMC11270527
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
6-19-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Animals, Male, Mice, Habenula, Feeding Behavior, Light, Dorsal Raphe Nucleus, Humans, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Eating, Neural Pathways, Rats, Serotonergic Neurons, Nerve Net, Darkness, 5-HT, feeding, LHb, light
Abstract
Light plays an essential role in a variety of physiological processes, including vision, mood, and glucose homeostasis. However, the intricate relationship between light and an animal's feeding behavior has remained elusive. Here, we found that light exposure suppresses food intake, whereas darkness amplifies it in male mice. Interestingly, this phenomenon extends its reach to diurnal male Nile grass rats and healthy humans. We further show that lateral habenula (LHb) neurons in mice respond to light exposure, which in turn activates 5-HT neurons in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN). Activation of the LHb→5-HTDRN circuit in mice blunts darkness-induced hyperphagia, while inhibition of the circuit prevents light-induced anorexia. Together, we discovered a light-responsive neural circuit that relays the environmental light signals to regulate feeding behavior in mice.
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Nutrition Commons, Pediatrics Commons