2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
WillDynamics of REM sleep and appetite
Publicly Offered Research
| Project Area | Creation and Promotion of the Will-Dynamics |
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| Project/Area Number |
19H05004
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
ラザルス ミハエル 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 准教授 (80469650)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | REM sleep |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Our lab recently revealed the crucial importance of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in linking sleep quality with food preference and energy consumption (McEown et al., Elife, 2016, pii:e20269). Given that midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons have dense projections to the mPFC, we aimed in this project to elucidate the precise role of DA neurotransmission in mediating food preference based on their nutritional and metabolic impact. To interfere with DA neurotransmission, we employed chemogenetics to selectively inhibit DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA).
After habituation into our behavioral settings, animals were given free access to highly palatable food (Chocolate and cheese) and standard laboratory chow. Food preference and intake was monitored daily under both baseline 12h/12h light/dark (LD) cycle and following 6h sleep deprivation. Under LD conditions, control animals showed high preference for palatable fatty items (cheese) over carbohydrate-rich food (chocolate and standard chow). After inhibition of DA neurons, animals still show a preference for fatty food over sweet food.
Following sleep deprivation (SD), control animals dramatically shifted their preference to sweet food items over fatty-food and standard chow. Inhibition of midbrain VTA DA neurons abolished this response, leading to similar food consumption pattern after SD compared to LD baseline conditions.
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| Research Progress Status |
令和2年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
令和2年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。
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Research Products
(2 results)
