# Role of lateral hypothalamic galanin circuits in mediating anxiety behaviors

> **NIH NIH P20** · LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR · 2021 · $215,834

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Evidence supports a crosstalk between anxiety, emotion and metabolic disease; however, the neural circuits
and molecular mechanisms that underlie anxiety and its connection to metabolism are not clear. The lateral
hypothalamus (LHA) is a brain region well known for its role in feeding and metabolism, and recent evidence
links LHA neurons to classic anxiety circuits. Our new data demonstrates a strong role for a unique population
of galanin-expressing (LHA) neurons as modulators of anxiety behavior. We have also previously shown these
neurons to drive food reward behaviors. Thus, LHA galanin neurons may provide a crucial link between feeding
behavior, metabolism, and emotional status. The goal of this project is to extend the functional LHA galanin
circuit by defining the neural circuit inputs and outputs and molecular mechanisms that orchestrate the role of
these neurons in anxiety and stress behaviors. We will accomplish this goal through identification of the
components of the LHA galanin circuit that are required for regulation of anxiety and testing the dependence of
this effect on intact galanin signaling, investigating alternative gene products which may regulate anxiety via LHA
galanin neurons, and finally, determine if LHA galanin neurons are targets of the higher order anxiety circuit. The
results from this project will reveal mechanisms by which discrete brain regions such as the LHA may influence
both emotion and metabolism, providing crucial insight into how dysregulation of emotion and metabolism may
interact.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10115097
- **Project number:** 5P20GM135002-02
- **Recipient organization:** LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily Qualls-Creekmore
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $215,834
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10115097

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10115097, Role of lateral hypothalamic galanin circuits in mediating anxiety behaviors (5P20GM135002-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10115097. Licensed CC0.

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