Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China.
Cell Metab. 2022 Jun 7;34(6):888-901.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.05.002.
Homeostatic thermogenesis is an essential protective feature of endotherms. However, the specific neuronal types involved in cold-induced thermogenesis remain largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and in situ hybridization, we screened for cold-sensitive neurons and found preprodynorphin (PDYN)-expressing cells in the dorsal medial region of the ventromedial hypothalamus (dmVMH) to be a candidate. Subsequent in vivo calcium recording showed that cold temperature activates dmVMH neurons, whereas hot temperature suppresses them. In addition, optogenetic activation of dmVMH neurons increases the brown adipose tissue and core body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, whereas optogenetic inhibition shows opposite effects, supporting their role in homeostatic thermogenesis. Furthermore, we found that dmVMH neurons are linked to known thermoregulatory circuits. Importantly, dmVMH neurons also show activation during mouse social interaction, and optogenetic inhibition suppresses social interaction and associated hyperthermia. Together, our study describes dual functions of dmVMH neurons that allow coordinated regulation of body temperature and social behaviors.
体内平衡产热是恒温动物的一个重要保护特征。然而，涉及冷诱导产热的特定神经元类型在很大程度上仍然未知。使用功能磁共振成像和原位杂交，我们筛选出冷敏感神经元，并发现腹内侧下丘脑（vmH）背内侧区表达前强啡肽原（PDYN）的细胞是候选者。随后的体内钙记录显示，冷温度激活 dmVMH 神经元，而热温度抑制它们。此外，dmVMH 神经元的光遗传学激活增加棕色脂肪组织和核心体温、心率和血压，而光遗传学抑制则显示相反的效果，支持它们在体内平衡产热中的作用。此外，我们发现 dmVMH 神经元与已知的体温调节回路有关。重要的是，dmVMH 神经元在小鼠社交互动过程中也表现出激活，而光遗传学抑制抑制社交互动和相关的体温升高。总之，我们的研究描述了 dmVMH 神经元的双重功能，允许对体温和社交行为进行协调调节。
