Limbic substrates of the effects of neuropeptide Y on intake of and motivation for palatable food. (19th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pandit, Rahul; Luijendijk, Mieneke C.M.; Vanderschuren, Louk J.M.J.; la, Susanne E.; Adan, Roger A.H.
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 22:Number 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 1216
• Page End: 1219
• Publication Date: 2014-02-19
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20718
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20718-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Neuropeptide Y (NPY), given centrally augments food intake and the motivation to work for palatable food. Here, the brain regions were identified through which NPY increases food intake and motivation.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20718-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>NPY was infused into three brain regions implicated in food intake and motivation: the lateral hypothalamus (LH), nucleus accumbens shell (NAc), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Motivation for sucrose was assessed using a progressive‐ratio schedule of reinforcement in which the effort to obtain successive rewards increased incrementally. To disentangle the effects of NPY on motivation for palatable food from food consumption, free‐feeding experiments were performed in which animals had <italic>ad libitum</italic> access to sucrose pellets.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20718-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Infusion of NPY into either VTA or NAc increased the motivation to respond for sucrose, whereas infusion of NPY in either NAc or LH increased sucrose consumption. In addition, the effect of intra‐VTA NPY on motivation for food was attenuated after pretreatment with the dopamine receptor antagonist alpha‐flupenthixol.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20718-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Specific limbic substrates through which NPY influences consumption of and motivation for palatable food were identified by these data. The motivational effects of NPY are exerted through the VTA, its consummatory effects through the LH, and the NAc is involved in both.</p> </sec> </abstract>