Non-caloric regulation of food intake

Sammanfattning: Food intake is shaped by environmental, endocrine, metabolic, and reward-related signals. A change in appetite is an outcome of integration of the relevant external and internal stimuli. While the main purpose of eating is to reverse a negative energy balance, mechanisms protecting homeostasis change appetite for other reasons. This thesis examines the role of select brain mechanisms in regulating consumption driven by aspects other than energy.In paper I, an increased percentage of c-Fos positive OT neurons was observed after mice ingested sucrose, while no change was found after Intralipid intake. Given a choice between isocaloric sugar and Intralipid solutions, mice injected with an OT receptor antagonist increase their preference for sucrose, while total calorie intake remains unchanged, suggesting that OT prevents overconsumption of sugar.Paper II addresses whether MCH, which has anxiolytic properties and mediates reward-motivated feeding, has the ability to alleviate conditioned taste aversion in rats. We found that while mRNA expression of MCH and its receptor are changed in aversive animals, central injections of MCH do not prevent the acquisition of aversion, nor do they affect the rate of extinction of the taste aversion.Paper III describes evidence that the N/OFQ system facilitates food intake by alleviating aversive responsiveness. Blocking the NOP receptor delays extinction of aversion and reduces food intake in hungry rats.Paper IV reports that leucine ingestion increases mRNA expression levels of genes known to mediate reward, as well as orexigenic gene expression in the nucleus accumbens (Nacc), a key component of the reward circuit. Adding leucine to drinking water increases activity of the reward system, which possibly contributes to the pleasure of consumption.A separate approach using Drosophila melanogaster is introduced in paper V which provides evidence that knocking down the gene for the transcription factor Ets96B during development results in a simultaneous disruption in sleep patterns and appetite, thus highlighting the interplay between these physiological parameters.We conclude that OT, MCH, N/OFQ and Ets96B belong to mechanisms regulating food intake for reasons other than energy balance. Composition of food and negative associations with diets affect neural networks controlling appetite.