Cholinergic basal forebrain connectivity to the basolateral amygdala modulates food intake

Obesity results from excessive caloric input associated with overeating and presents a major public health challenge. The hypothalamus has received significant attention for its role in governing feeding behavior and body weight homeostasis. However, extra-hypothalamic brain circuits also regulate appetite and consumption by altering sensory perception, motivation, and reward. We recently discovered a population of basal forebrain cholinergic (BFc) neurons that regulate appetite suppression. Through viral tracing methods in the mouse model, we found that BFc neurons densely innervate the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a limbic structure involved in motivated behaviors. Using channelrhodopsin-assisted circuit mapping, we identified cholinergic responses in BLA neurons following BFc circuit manipulations. Furthermore, acetylcholine sensor and genetically-encoded calcium indicator imaging within the BLA (using GACh3 and GCaMP, respectively) revealed selective response patterns of activity during feeding. Finally, through optogenetic manipulations , we found that increased cholinergic signaling from the BFc to the BLA suppresses appetite and food intake. Together, these data support a model in which cholinergic signaling from the BFc to the BLA directly influences appetite and feeding behavior. Feeding behavior has often been associated with homeostatic brain circuits in the hypothalamus. Here we identify a non-homeostatic node of brain circuitry that functions to suppress feeding via cholinergic signaling from the basal forebrain. This circuitry may help explain how mood, motivation, reward, and aversion impacts feeding behavior.