Ghrelin Receptor Signaling In The Brain Links Hunger To Mood And Motivation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$721,909.00
Summary
Cells in the brain that respond to hunger may also promote obsessive compulsive behaviours often associated with mental illness, such as anorexia nervosa. This grant examines how the signals from the body inform the brain of hunger. Specially we examine if overactivity of hunger cells, in the absence of appropriate food intake can increase behaviours associated with mental illness.
While we need to consume salt, too much can be harmful and is in fact directly linked to ~5% of deaths annually in Australia. We have identified a system in the brain that regulates salt intake. Going forwards we will fully elucidate the pathway(s) implicated in regulation of salt intake, thereby identifying strategies to reduce excessive salt consumption.
Motivational drive and reward are survival processes that underpin the maintenance of homeostasis. In humans, dysregulation of these brain circuits manifests in disorders such as depression and addictions. Our projects is focused on a key subgroup of neurons in the hypothalamus that modulates reward and motivation. We aim to understand how potent reward experience (e.g. drugs) or stress modifies these circuits and to identify potential entry points for therapeutic interventions.