Biology subjects

Reitman, M. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Reitman, M. L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

A Hypothalamic Circuit that Modulates Feeding and Parenting Behaviors

Across mammalian species, new mothers undergo considerable behavioral changes to nurture their offspring and meet the caloric demands of milk production1-5. While many neural circuits underlying feeding and parenting behaviors are well characterized6-9, it is unclear how these different circuits interact and adapt during lactation. Here, we characterized the transcriptomic changes in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the mouse hypothalamus in response to lactation and hunger. Furthermore, we showed that heightened appetite in lactating mice was accompanied by increased activity of hunger-promoting agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in the ARC. To assess the strength of hunger versus maternal drives, we designed a conflict assay where female mice chose between a food source or a chamber containing pups and nesting material. Although food-deprived lactating mothers prioritized parenting over feeding, hunger reduced the duration and disrupted the sequences of parenting behaviors in both lactating and virgin females. We discovered that ARCAgRP neurons directly inhibit bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS3) neurons in the MPOA, a population that governs both parenting and satiety. Selective activation of this ARCAgRP to MPOABRS3 circuit shifted behaviors from parenting to food-seeking. Thus, hypothalamic networks are modulated by physiological states and work antagonistically during the prioritization of competing motivated behaviors.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Preoptic BRS3 neurons increase body temperature and heart rate via multiple pathways

The preoptic area (POA) is a key region controlling body temperature (Tb), dictating thermogenic, cardiovascular, and behavioral responses to regulate Tb. Known POA neuronal populations reduce Tb when activated; a population that increases Tb upon activation has not yet been reported. We now identify bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3)-expressing POA (POABRS3) neurons as having this missing functionality. BRS3 is an orphan receptor that regulates energy and cardiovascular homeostasis, but the relevant neural circuits are incompletely understood. In mice, we demonstrate that POABRS3 neuronal activation increases Tb, heart rate, and blood pressure sympathetically, via projections to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and dorsomedial hypothalamus. Acute POABRS3 inhibition reduces Tb. Long-term inactivation of POABRS3 neurons increased Tb variability with exaggerated Tb changes, overshooting both increases and decreases in Tb set point. BRS3 marks preoptic populations that regulate Tb and heart rate, contribute to cold-defense and fine-tune feedback control of Tb. These findings advance understanding of homeothermy, a defining feature of mammalian biology. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/433948v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (52K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@121b5a8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d67bforg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@865eeborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c1d41e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG Graphical abstract C_FIG

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

Potential Bias of Doubly Labeled Water for Measuring Energy Expenditure Differences Between Diets Varying in Carbohydrate

BackgroundVery low-carbohydrate diets have been reported to substantially increase human energy expenditure as measured by doubly labeled water (DLW) but not by respiratory chambers. Do the DLW data reflect true physiological differences that are undetected by respiratory chambers? Alternatively, are the apparent DLW energy expenditure a consequence of failure to fully account for respiratory quotient (RQ) differences between diets?\n\nObjectiveTo examine energy expenditure differences between diets varying drastically in carbohydrate and to quantitatively compare DLW data with respiratory chamber and body composition measurements within an energy balance framework.\n\nDesignDLW measurements were obtained during the final two weeks of month-long baseline (BD; 50% carbohydrate, 35% fat, 15% protein) and isocaloric ketogenic diets (KD; 5% carbohydrate, 80% fat, 15% protein) in 17 men with BMI 25-35 kg/m2. Subjects resided 2d/week in respiratory chambers to measure energy expenditure (EEchamber). DLW expenditure was calculated using chamber-determined respiratory quotients (RQ) either unadjusted (EEDLW) or adjusted (EEDLW{Delta}RQ) for net energy imbalance using diet-specific coefficients. Accelerometers measured physical activity. Body composition changes were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry which were combined with energy intake measurements to calculate energy expenditure by balance (EEbal).\n\nResultsAfter transitioning from BD to KD, neither EEchamber nor EEbal were significantly changed ({triangleup}EEchamber=24{+/-}30 kcal/d; p=0.43 and {triangleup}EEbal=-141{+/-}118 kcal/d; p=0.25). Similarly, physical activity (-5.1{+/-}4.8%; p=0.3) and exercise efficiency (-1.6{+/-}2.4%; p=0.52) were not significantly changed. However, EEDLW was 209{+/-}83 kcal/d higher during the KD (p=0.023) but was not significantly increased when adjusted for energy balance (EEDLW{Delta}RQ =139{+/-}89 kcal/d; p=0.14). After removing 2 outliers whose EEDLW were incompatible with other data, EEDLW and EEDLW{triangleup}RQ were marginally increased during the KD by 126{+/-}62 kcal/d (p=0.063) and 46{+/-}65 kcal/d (p=0.49), respectively.\n\nConclusionsDLW calculations failing to account for diet-specific energy imbalance effects on RQ erroneously suggest that very low carbohydrate diets substantially increase energy expenditure.

physiology↗