2013
Hypothalamic melanin concentrating hormone neurons communicate the nutrient value of sugar
Domingos AI, Sordillo A, Dietrich MO, Liu ZW, Tellez LA, Vaynshteyn J, Ferreira JG, Ekstrand MI, Horvath TL, de Araujo IE, Friedman JM. Hypothalamic melanin concentrating hormone neurons communicate the nutrient value of sugar. ELife 2013, 2: e01462. PMID: 24381247, PMCID: PMC3875383, DOI: 10.7554/elife.01462.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRewarding effectsHormone neuronsMelanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neuronsMCH neurons projectStriatal dopamine levelsStriatal DA releaseStriatal dopamine releaseMCH neuronsSucrose ingestionNeurons projectDA releaseDopamine levelsDopamine releaseOptogenetic activationNeural pathwaysArtificial sweetenersNeural circuitryNeuronsNormal preferenceFood preferencesFood rewardGlucoseNutrient sensingMiceSweetener sucralose
2011
Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice
Abizaid A, Mineur YS, Roth RH, Elsworth JD, Sleeman MW, Picciotto MR, Horvath TL. Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice. Neuroscience 2011, 192: 500-506. PMID: 21699961, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGhrelin KO miceWT miceDopamine releaseLocomotor activityBehavioral effectsDopamine metabolite concentrationsGhrelin-deficient miceLocomotor-stimulating effectsDopamine cell activityEffects of cocaineMesolimbic dopaminergic systemWild-type littermatesOrexigenic hormoneChronic injectionsDopamine utilizationDaily injectionsStriatal dopamineMesolimbic systemWT littermatesDopaminergic systemDaily cocaineFood intakeRewarding effectsPsychostimulant effectsLocomotor response