Regulation of fat intake in the absence of flavour signalling
JG Ferreira, LA Tellez, X Ren, CW Yeckel… - The Journal of …, 2012 - Wiley Online Library
JG Ferreira, LA Tellez, X Ren, CW Yeckel, IE de Araujo
The Journal of physiology, 2012•Wiley Online LibraryKey points• The hedonic orosensory properties of fats strongly promote intake, but it remains
unknown whether fat intake stimulates brain reward circuits in the absence of orosensory
cues.• We developed a behavioral assay that allows for the dissociation between
orosensory versus post‐oral influences on fat intake.• Mice trained to lick a dry spout to
receive intra‐gastric infusions of fat emulsions maintained constant caloric intake in
response to changes in energy density or hunger levels.• Dopamine levels in dorsal and …
unknown whether fat intake stimulates brain reward circuits in the absence of orosensory
cues.• We developed a behavioral assay that allows for the dissociation between
orosensory versus post‐oral influences on fat intake.• Mice trained to lick a dry spout to
receive intra‐gastric infusions of fat emulsions maintained constant caloric intake in
response to changes in energy density or hunger levels.• Dopamine levels in dorsal and …
Key points
- • The hedonic orosensory properties of fats strongly promote intake, but it remains unknown whether fat intake stimulates brain reward circuits in the absence of orosensory cues.
- • We developed a behavioral assay that allows for the dissociation between orosensory versus post‐oral influences on fat intake.
- • Mice trained to lick a dry spout to receive intra‐gastric infusions of fat emulsions maintained constant caloric intake in response to changes in energy density or hunger levels.
- • Dopamine levels in dorsal and ventral striatum were responsive to gut infusions of fat emulsions, in such a way that (1) extracellular striatal dopamine levels fluctuate in proportion to the caloric density of nutrients infused in the gut; and (2) inhibiting dopamine receptor signalling disrupts the animals’ ability to maintain constant caloric intake across experimental sessions.
- • Our results support the existence of a gut–brain dopamine axis that functions as a flavour‐independent central sensor of fat calories.
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