Appetitive Behavior in the Social Transmission of Food Preference Paradigm Predicts Activation of Orexin-A producing Neurons in a Sex-Dependent Manner. (15th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agee, Laura A.; Nemchek, Victoria; Malone, Cassidy A.; Lee, Hongjoo J.; Monfils, Marie-H.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 481(2022)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2022-01-15
• Subjects: CS2 carbon disulphide -- IEG immediate early gene -- IL infralimbic -- LHA lateral hypothalamic area -- STFP social transmission of food preference; orexin/hypocretin -- social transmission of food preference -- social behavior -- appetitive behavior -- infralimbic cortex -- sex differences; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Highlights: Appetitive behavior is predictive of orexin-A cell activity. Orexin-A cell activity correlates negatively with food consumption in male, but not female, rats. Female rats have significantly higher levels of Orexin-A activity than males. Infralimbic cortex activity can be predicted by pre-euthanasia social behavior. Abstract: Orexin-producing cells in the lateral hypothalamic area have been shown to be involved in a wide variety of behavioral and cognitive functions, including the recall of appetitive associations and a variety of social behaviors. Here, we investigated the role of orexin in the acquisition and recall of socially transmitted food preferences in the rat. Rats were euthanized following either acquisition, short-term recall, or long-term recall of a socially transmitted food preference and their brains were processed for orexin-A and c-Fos expression. We found that while there were no significant differences in c-Fos expression between control and experimental subjects at any of the tested timepoints, females displayed significantly more activity in both orexinergic and non-orexinergic cells in the lateral hypothalamus. In the infralimbic cortex, we found that social behavior was significantly predictive of c-Fos expression, with social behaviors related to olfactory exploration appearing to be particularly influential. We additionally found that appetitive behavior was significantly predictive of orexin-A activity in a sex-dependent matter, with the total amount eaten correlating negatively with orexin-A/c-Fos colocalization in male rats but not female rats. These findings suggest a potential sex-specific role for the orexin system in balancing the stimulation of feeding behavior with the sleep/wake cycle.