# Mapping the neuronal circuitry underlying indirect striatal to hypothalamic connectivity and its role in feeding

> **NIH NIH R00** · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $249,000

## Abstract

Food consumption is fundamental to species survival and understanding the neuronal circuitry underlying
feeding behaviors is of the utmost importance. Amassing evidence supports the idea that control of caloric
intake is complex and involves calculations of hedonic value, reward and motivation. Thus, it requires
interactions between brain regions classically implemented in feeding (such as the lateral hypothalamus; LH)
and the regions modulating reward (such as the ventral striatum). While the intersection of these regions has
been suggested, the cell-type specific circuitry linking these pathways is poorly understood. The objective of
this proposal is to further elucidate the cell-type specific circuitry underlying striatal-to-lateral hypothalamic
connections and determine its role in feeding, while gaining training in new neuronal circuitry mapping
techniques.
 There is evidence that the striatum exerts its control over feeding behaviors by interfacing with the LH.
Previous research indicates that the ventral striatum, and specifically the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS),
and the LH are connected via a direct pathway. However, rudimentary tracing and behavioral studies have
suggested a second, indirect pathway, with the NAcS projecting to the ventral pallidum (VP), which in turn
projects to the LH. However, despite this initial evidence, cell-type specific, neuronal circuitry in this indirect
pathway remains unknown. Using viral tracing methods and chemogenetic approaches I will determine the
cell-types implicated in each component of this three-part circuitry, and how they mediate feeding behaviors. I
hypothesize that GABAergic striatal projection neurons expressing the dopamine D2 receptor in the NAcS
preferentially innervate GABAergic cells in the VP, which in turn disinhibit LH GABA neurons to facilitate
feeding.
 Furthermore, in understanding the brain pathways and connectivity underlying food intake behaviors, this
project will ultimately allow us to better understand perturbations that occur in disease states such as obesity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10491244
- **Project number:** 7R00AA027750-03
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Miriam E. Bocarsly
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2021-09-20 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10491244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10491244, Mapping the neuronal circuitry underlying indirect striatal to hypothalamic connectivity and its role in feeding (7R00AA027750-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10491244. Licensed CC0.

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