Oxytocin neurons: integrators of hypothalamic and brainstem circuits in the regulation of macronutrient-specific satiety

Hypothalamic oxytocin neurons are differentially regulated by the ingestion of different macronutrients, presumably through inputs from other hypothalamic and brainstem regions that are sensitive to food-associated signals from the periphery, including the gut. After integrating this information, the oxytocin system appears to target multiple hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic regions to suppress food consumption in a macronutrient-specific manner, specifically decreasing preference for carbohydrate-containing foods.