# Role of VTA Neurotensin Receptor-1 Expressing Neurons in Energy Balance

> **NIH NIH F31** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $37,836

## Abstract

Project Summary
Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulate feeding and physical activity, but
disruption of these behaviors has promoted the worldwide obesity epidemic. While subsets of VTA DA
neurons promote or suppress feeding, the lack of molecular markers to distinguish these populations has
prevented development of targeted therapies to support weight loss behaviors. The goal of this proposal is to
determine whether a new molecularly-defined subset of VTA DA neurons that express neurotensin receptor-1
(NtsR1) may be useful to support weight loss; I refer to these as “VTA NtsR1 neurons”. Intriguingly, the ligand
neurotensin only supports dual weight loss behaviors when injected into the VTA, although NtsR1 neurons are
distributed throughout the brain. Furthermore, NtsR1 null mice have disrupted DA signaling, overconsume
palatable foods and become overweight, indicating that some NtsR1 neurons are necessary for regulating
body weight. I thus hypothesize that the DA-containing VTA NtsR1 neurons specifically incite weight loss
behaviors via an NtsR1-dependent mechanism. To examine this, I will use DREADD technology to
experimentally activate VTA NtsR1 neurons and to determine if they are sufficient to promote weight loss
behaviors. I will also use new NtsR1flox mice to selectively delete NtsR1 from the VTA, thus determining its
necessity for control of body weight. These data will reveal how VTA NtsR1 neurons modify body weight, and
may guide the use of new agonists that selectively target this population for treating obesity. Simultaneously, I
will learn cutting-edge skills bridging neuroscience and pharmacology that are necessary for my development
into an independent academic faculty member studying disease pathogenesis and treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988178
- **Project number:** 5F31DK121373-02
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Patricia Perez-Bonilla
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $37,836
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-16 → 2022-02-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988178

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988178, Role of VTA Neurotensin Receptor-1 Expressing Neurons in Energy Balance (5F31DK121373-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988178. Licensed CC0.

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