Midbrain cells that control food-seeking and appetite
GABAergic Cells in the Periaqueductal Gray Region Control Food-Seeking
Researchers are learning how specific midbrain cells signal and drive food-seeking behavior to help people with binge-eating, anorexia, and obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324596 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research uses mice to study a group of GABA-producing cells in a midbrain area (lateral/ventrolateral periaqueductal gray) that seem to trigger food-seeking and eating. Scientists will record the activity of many of these cells with tiny head-mounted microscopes while animals search for and consume food, apply computational methods to decode activity patterns, and use targeted molecular tools to turn these cells or their projections on or off. They will also trace connections from these cells to regions like the zona incerta to see how those pathways affect foraging and consumption. The aim is to map the circuit steps that lead from approach to actual eating so future treatments can target those steps.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with binge-eating disorder, compulsive overeating, or other conditions marked by abnormal food-seeking behaviors would be the most relevant patient group for eventual translation of these findings.
Not a fit: People whose eating problems are driven primarily by non-neural medical causes or who do not have abnormal food-seeking behaviors may not see direct benefit from this basic neuroscience work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new brain circuit targets for treatments that reduce pathological food-seeking in disorders such as binge-eating and some forms of obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies have shown that manipulating midbrain and hypothalamic circuits can change feeding and hunting behaviors, but the specific role of these l/vlPAG GABA cell ensembles and their projections is a newer and less-tested area.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adhikari, Avishek — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Adhikari, Avishek
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.