Preprint
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus: Influence on binge-type eating in male and female mice
Research square
02 Apr 2024
PMID: 38645077
Abstract
Binge eating disorder, characterized by the overconsumption of food in a discrete time period, is the most common eating disorder in the United States, but its neurological basis is not fully understood. The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a limbic brain region implicated in eating, and the anorexigenic neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), is densely expressed in the PVT. This study sought to examine the possible involvement of PACAP in the PVT in binge-type eating. First, a model of binge-type eating was established in mice. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were given limited access to Milk Chocolate Ensure Plus or had access only to chow and water. Under this model, while males and females both engaged in binge-type eating with Ensure, females engaged in this behavior to a greater degree than males. Next, the role of PACAP in the PVT was defined in relation to binge-type eating. Using quantitative real-time PCR, females were found to have higher baseline levels of PVT PACAP mRNA than males, but only males showed an increase in levels of PACAP after a history of binge-type eating, and only males showed a reduction in levels of PACAP immediately prior to a binge session. Using chemogenetics in PACAP-Cre transgenic mice on a C57BL/6J background, activation of PVT PACAP cells with a Cre-dependent Gq-DREADD was found to reduce binge-type eating, significantly in male but not female mice. These results indicate that PVT PACAP is involved in binge-type eating in a sex-dependent manner, with a decrease in PVT PACAP levels preceding binge-type eating in male mice, and enhanced PVT PACAP cell activity suppressing binge-type eating in male mice. Together, these results suggest that the PACAP system could be targeted in specific patient populations to help treat binge eating disorder.
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Details
- Title
- Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus: Influence on binge-type eating in male and female mice
- Creators
- Genevieve R Curtis - Drexel UniversityBrody A Carpenter - Drexel UniversityBreanne E Pirino - Drexel UniversityAnnie Hawks - Drexel UniversityGeorge Li - Drexel UniversityJessica R Barson - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Research square
- Grant note
- R01 AA028218 / NIAAA NIH HHS F31 AA031427 / NIAAA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurobiology and Anatomy; College of Medicine
- Other Identifier
- 991021869219804721