Lateral hypothalamic leptin receptor neurons drive hunger-gated food-seeking and consummatory behaviours in male mice

Eating behviours consist of seeking and consummatory phases. Here, authors show that two distinct lateral hypothalamic leptin receptor neurons orchestrate seeking and consummatory phases of eating behaviour via hunger signal, Neuropeptide Y. For survival, it is crucial for eating behaviours to be sequenced through two distinct seeking and consummatory phases. Heterogeneous lateral hypothalamus (LH) neurons are known to regulate motivated behaviours, yet which subpopulation drives food seeking and consummatory behaviours have not been fully addressed. Here, in male mice, fibre photometry recordings demonstrated that LH leptin receptor (LepR) neurons are correlated explicitly in both voluntary seeking and consummatory behaviours. Further, micro-endoscope recording of the LHLepR neurons demonstrated that one subpopulation is time-locked to seeking behaviours and the other subpopulation time-locked to consummatory behaviours. Seeking or consummatory phase specific paradigm revealed that activation of LHLepR neurons promotes seeking or consummatory behaviours and inhibition of LHLepR neurons reduces consummatory behaviours. The activity of LHLepR neurons was increased via Neuropeptide Y (NPY) which acted as a tonic permissive gate signal. Our results identify neural populations that mediate seeking and consummatory behaviours and may lead to therapeutic targets for maladaptive food seeking and consummatory behaviours.

Automated summary

The authors reveal that two distinct lateral hypothalamic leptin receptor neurons regulate seeking and consummatory phases of eating behaviour through Neuropeptide Y. Activation of these neurons promotes seeking or consummatory behaviours, while inhibition reduces consummatory behaviours. These findings provide potential therapeutic targets for maladaptive food seeking and consummatory behaviours.