Characterization of neural microcircuitry responsible for carbohydrates compulsions

Abstract

Obesity is considered a major public health problem in many countries, including Brazil. Many cases of obesity are due compulsive feed behavior and high carbohydrate intake. Recent studies show that the high carbohydrate intake induced dopamine release into the striatum, involving a specific neural circuitry including the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia and midbrain dopaminergic nuclei, responsible for executive function, actions/habits, and motivational/emotional reactions, respectively. The purpose of this study is to characterize the neural systems that mediates habits/food cravings through a combination of behavioral, neurochemical and molecular techniques. More precisely, we will use the viral expression of Cre-dependent ion channels sensitive to light ("optogenetic"), to manipulate in vivo the two pathways in the dorsolateral striatum that are regulated by dopamine receptors D1 and D2 types. Specifically, we will test the hypothesis that excessive calories consumption eliciates an imbalance between efferent direct (excitatory) and indirect (inhibitory) pathways in favor of the former, resulting in uncontrolled manifestation of ingestive behaviors and food compulsions. (AU)