Activation of AMPK-Regulated CRH Neurons in the PVH is Sufficient and Necessary to Induce Dietary Preference for Carbohydrate over Fat

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.102
• Publication Date: 2018-01-29T14:31:02Z
• Authors: Shiki Okamoto; Tatsuya Sato; Michihiro Tateyama; Haruaki Kageyama; Yuko Maejima; Masanori Nakata; Satoshi Hirako; Takashi Matsuo; Sanda Kyaw; Tetsuya Shiuchi; Chitoku Toda; Udval Sedbazar; Kumiko Saito; Nur Farehan Asgar; Boyang Zhang; Shigefumi Yokota; Kenta Kobayashi; Fabienne Foufelle; Pascal Ferré; Masamitsu Nakazato; Hiroaki Masuzaki; Seiji Shioda; Toshihiko Yada; Barbara B. Kahn; Yasuhiko Minokoshi
• Keywords: AMPK; Male; Neurons; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; QH301-705.5; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; 590; Carbohydrates; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Diet; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; CPT1c; CRH; Animals; food preference; Biology (General); PVH

Food selection is essential for metabolic homeostasis and is influenced by nutritional state, food palatability, and social factors such as stress. However, the mechanism responsible for selection between a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) and a high-fat diet (HFD) remains unknown. Here, we show that activation of a subset of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-positive neurons in the rostral region of the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) induces selection of an HCD over an HFD in mice during refeeding after fasting, resulting in a rapid recovery from the change in ketone metabolism. These neurons manifest activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) during food deprivation, and this activation is necessary and sufficient for selection of an HCD over an HFD. Furthermore, this effect is mediated by carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1c (CPT1c). Thus, our results identify the specific neurons and intracellular signaling pathway responsible for regulation of the complex behavior of selection between an HCD and an HFD. VIDEO ABSTRACT.