1314-P: Activating GABAergic Neurons in the Caudal Preoptic Area Promote Energy Expenditure in Diet-Induced Obesity

Obesity results from the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, which are tightly regulated by dynamic hypothalamic circuits. Our goal is to identify and leverage hypothalamic components that promote energy expenditure for successful weight loss. Vesicular communication by ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) steroidogenic factor 1 (Sf1) neurons is required for maintaining body weight, due at least in part to stimulating metabolic activity in adipose tissue, but the mechanistic details are unclear. VMNSf1 neurons efferently communicate with relatively few places in the brain but the most prominent projections are in the most caudal regions of the preoptic area (cPOA) (+0.1 to -0.3mm bregma, lateral to the suprachiasmatic nucleus) . We tested the hypothesis that GABAergic cPOA neurons promote energy expenditure and weight loss by activating either GABAergic or glutamatergic neurons via hM3dq, using vGATCre (vesicular GABAergic transporter) or vGLUT2Cre (vesicular glutamatergic transporter 2) in diet-induced obese male mice. Activating vGATcPOA neurons reduced body weight and adiposity without altering food intake. Activating vGLUT2cPOA neurons reduced body weight and food intake but did not reduce adiposity. Activating vGLUT2cPOA neurons reduced core body temperature, but not vGATcPOA neurons. We are currently investigating the mechanisms for how vGATcPOA neurons reduce adiposity. Weight loss is not likely mediated by direct inhibition of vGLUT2cPOA neurons because diet induced obese male mice with CNO-initiated signaling of hM4di in vglut2cPOA neurons does not reduce adiposity or body weight. Alternatively, vGATcPOA neurons may communicate with a distinct efferent system. Indeed, vGATcPOA, but not vGLUT2cPOA, neurons project to the lateral hypothalamus and medial raphe. Future studies will reveal the functional connection between VMNSf1 neurons and vGATcPOA neurons, and the descending circuitry that promotes energy expenditure.