Current perspectives on brain circuits involved in food addiction-like behaviors.

There is an emerging view that the increased availability of energy-dense foods in our society is contributing to excessive food consumption which could lead to food addiction-like behavior. Particularly, compulsive eating patterns are predominant in people suffering from eating disorders (binge-eating disorder, bulimia and anorexia nervosa) and obesity. Phenotypically, the behavioral pattern exhibits a close resemblance to individuals suffering from other forms of addiction (drug, sex, gambling).

A pilot study: Can calcaneus radiographic image be used to determine sex and breed in cats?

This study examined whether radiographic images measurements of the calcaneus in cats are determinative of sex and breed. For this purpose, radiographic images of 70 cats (37 male and 33 females) of different ages (from one to 18 years) and different breeds (41 mix-breed, 18 Scottish Fold and 11 British Shorthair cats) without orthopaedic problems were used. Right tarsal joint radiographs of these orthopaedically healthy cats were taken.

Neural circuit control of innate behaviors.

All animals possess a plethora of innate behaviors that do not require extensive learning and are fundamental for their survival and propagation. With the advent of newly-developed techniques such as viral tracing and optogenetic and chemogenetic tools, recent studies are gradually unraveling neural circuits underlying different innate behaviors. Here, we summarize current development in our understanding of the neural circuits controlling predation, feeding, male-typical mating, and urination, highlighting the role of genetically defined neurons and their connections in sensory triggering, sensory to motor/motivation transformation, motor/motivation encoding during these different behaviors.

A neural circuit for excessive feeding driven by environmental context in mice.

Despite notable genetic influences, obesity mainly results from the overconsumption of food, which arises from the interplay of physiological, cognitive and environmental factors. In patients with obesity, eating is determined more by external cues than by internal physiological needs. However, how environmental context drives non-homeostatic feeding is elusive.

A distinct parabrachial-to-lateral hypothalamus circuit for motivational suppression of feeding by nociception.

The motivation to eat is not only shaped by nutrition but also competed by external stimuli including pain. How the mouse hypothalamus, the feeding regulation center, integrates nociceptive inputs to modulate feeding is unclear. Within the key nociception relay center parabrachial nucleus (PBN), we demonstrated that neurons projecting to the lateral hypothalamus (PBN) are nociceptive yet distinct from danger-encoding central amygdala-projecting (PBN) neurons.