Author
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XU, PINGWEN - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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HE, YANLIN - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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CAO, XUEHONG - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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VALENCIA-TORRES, LOURDES - ROWETT RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
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YAN, XIAOFENG - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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SAITO, KENJI - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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WANG, CHUNMEI - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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YANG, YONGJIE - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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HINTON, ANTENTOR - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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ZHU, LIANGRU - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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SHU, GANG - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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MYERS, MARTIN - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN |
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WU, QI - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
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TONG, QINGCHUN - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER |
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HEISLER, LORA - ROWETT RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
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XU, YONG - CHILDREN'S NUTRITION RESEARCH CENTER (CNRC) |
Submitted to: Biological Psychiatry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2016 Publication Date: 8/8/2016 Citation: Xu, P., He, Y., Cao, X., Valencia-Torres, L., Yan, X., Saito, K., Wang, C., Yang, Y., Hinton, A., Zhu, L., Shu, G., Myers, M.G., Wu, Q., Tong, Q., Heisler, L., Xu, Y. 2016. Activation of serotonin 2C receptors in dopamine neurons inhibits binge-like eating in mice. Biological Psychiatry. 81:737-747. Interpretive Summary: Binge eating is a serious medical condition, but treatment is limited. Here we showed that serotonin compounds can substantially suppress binge-like eating in mice. We further demonstrated that serotonin actions are mediated by a specific serotonin receptor expressed by brain dopamine neurons. These findings highlighted serotonin receptors expressed by dopamine neurons as the key regulator of binge eating behavior, and it could be a potential target for development of novel therapies for binge eating in humans. Technical Abstract: Neural networks that regulate binge eating remain to be identified, and effective treatments for binge eating are limited. We combined neuroanatomic, pharmacologic, electrophysiological, Cre-lox, and chemogenetic approaches to investigate the functions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 2C receptor (5-HT2CR) expressed by dopamine (DA) neurons in the regulation of binge-like eating behavior in mice. We showed that 5-HT stimulates DA neural activity through a 5-HT2CR-mediated mechanism, and activation of this midbrain 5-HT'DA neural circuit effectively inhibits binge-like eating behavior in mice. Notably, 5-HT medications, including fluoxetine, d-fenfluramine, and lorcaserin (a selective 5-HT2CR agonist), act on 5-HT2CRs expressed by DA neurons to inhibit binge-like eating in mice. We identified the 5-HT2CR population in DA neurons as one potential target for antibinge therapies, and provided preclinical evidence that 5-HT2CR agonists could be used to treat binge eating. |