A parabrachial-hypothalamic cholecystokinin neurocircuit controls counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia

Alastair S Garfield, Bhavik P Shah, Joseph C Madara, Luke K Burke, Christa M Patterson, Jonathan Flak, Rachael L Neve, Mark L Evans, Bradford B Lowell, Martin G Myers, Lora K Heisler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Hypoglycemia engenders an autonomically mediated counterregulatory (CR)-response that stimulates endogenous glucose production to maintain concentrations within an appropriate physiological range. Although the involvement of the brain in preserving normoglycemia has been established, the neurocircuitry underlying centrally mediated CR-responses remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that lateral parabrachial nucleus cholecystokinin (CCK(LPBN)) neurons are a population of glucose-sensing cells (glucose inhibited) with counterregulatory capacity. Furthermore, we reveal that steroidogenic-factor 1 (SF1)-expressing neurons of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (SF1(VMH)) are the specific target of CCK(LPBN) glucoregulatory neurons. This discrete CCK(LPBN)→SF1(VMH) neurocircuit is both necessary and sufficient for the induction of CR-responses. Together, these data identify CCK(LPBN) neurons, and specifically CCK neuropeptide, as glucoregulatory and provide significant insight into the homeostatic mechanisms controlling CR-responses to hypoglycemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1030-7
Number of pages8
JournalCell Metabolism
Volume20
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Dec 2014

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholecystokinin
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypothalamus
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Parabrachial Nucleus

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