Lateral Hypothalamus Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II α Neurons Encode Novelty-Seeking Signals to Promote Predatory Eating

Abstract

Predatory hunting is an innate appetite-driven and evolutionarily conserved behavior essential for animal survival, integrating sequential behaviors including searching, pursuit, attack, retrieval, and ultimately consumption. Nevertheless, neural circuits underlying hunting behavior with different features remain largely unexplored. Here, we deciphered a novel function of lateral hypothalamus (LH) calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα+) neurons in hunting behavior and uncovered upstream/downstream circuit basis. LH CaMKIIα+ neurons bidirectionally modulate novelty-seeking behavior, predatory attack, and eating in hunting behavior. LH CaMKIIα+ neurons integrate hunting-related novelty-seeking information from the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and project to the ventral periaqueductal gray (vPAG) to promote predatory eating. Our results demonstrate that LH CaMKIIα+ neurons are the key hub that integrate MPOA-conveyed novelty-seeking signals and encode predatory eating in hunting behavior, which enriched the neuronal substrate of hunting behavior.

Eugenol improves high-fat diet/streptomycin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice muscle dysfunction by alleviating inflammation and increasing muscle glucose uptake

“…In addition, eugenol helps restore energy metabolic homeostasis in hyperglycemic mice, as prolonged increased muscle glucose uptake is not beneficial. We hypothesized that after blood glucose levels are stabilized, eugenol changes the calcium ion flow to reach a new equilibrium, which is consistent with the mechanisms in which the brain regulates neural signaling through calcium ions (53,54). To achieve this balance, activation and inhibition of TRPV1 as an ion channel may be a key regulatory factor.…”

The contribution of periaqueductal gray in the regulation of physiological and pathological behaviors

“…PAG receives substantial projections from regions including the CeA, lateral hypothalamus (LH), medial preoptic area (MPA), zona incerta (ZI), and basal forebrain (BF), making it a potential integration center for hunting-related information. Furthermore, it encodes the sequential organization of the aforementioned hunting actions ( Han et al, 2017 ; Park et al, 2018 ; Zhao et al, 2019 ; Roman-Ortiz et al, 2021 ; Rossier et al, 2021 ; Tan et al, 2022 ). For example, GABAergic inputs from the CeA mainly control prey pursuit ( Han et al, 2017 ), while those from the LH mainly regulate prey attack ( Tan et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Furthermore, it encodes the sequential organization of the aforementioned hunting actions ( Han et al, 2017 ; Park et al, 2018 ; Zhao et al, 2019 ; Roman-Ortiz et al, 2021 ; Rossier et al, 2021 ; Tan et al, 2022 ). For example, GABAergic inputs from the CeA mainly control prey pursuit ( Han et al, 2017 ), while those from the LH mainly regulate prey attack ( Tan et al, 2022 ). Additionally, GABAergic inputs from ZI mainly control the introduction and chase phases ( Zhao et al, 2019 ).…”

Exploration driven by a medial preoptic circuit facilitates fear extinction in mice

“…The medial preoptic area (MPA) is known to regulate approach behaviors and exploratory interactions with a variety of targets 21 – 25 . Also, the ventral periaqueductal gray (vPAG), which receives a strong input from the MPA 26 , 27 , is well known to be involved in modulating approaching (fight) or avoiding (flight) behaviors 28 , 29 and hunting behaviors 30 , 31 .…”