Fig. 5: Activation of PVT neurons reduces feeding.

a Schematic depiction of targeting vectors carrying Cre-dependent DREADD-hM3Dq, hM4Di, or mCherry in PVT of vGluT2-Cre mice. b Representative confocal images of DREADD expressions in PVT neurons. c–g Feeding behavioral experiments were performed in fed and 24 h food-deprived mice respectively: activation of PVT neurons with J60 i.p. injections reduced food intake in both c fed (n = 9; 2h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0427; 4h^{vehicle vs J60}, p < 0.0001; 6h^{vehicle vs J60}, p < 0.0001; 8h^{vehicle vs J60}, p < 0.0001) and d refeeding in food deprived (FD) (n = 8; 4h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0062; 6h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0015; 8h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0433) hM3Dq-transduced mice but not in e mCherry-transduced animals (n = 8); DREADD inhibition of PVT neurons with J60 i.p. injections did not affect food intake in f fed mice (n = 7) but increased refeeding in g deprived mice (n = 10; 2h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0095; 4h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0034; 6h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0021; 8h^{vehicle vs J60}, p = 0.0001). Two-way ANOVA with Sidak post hoc tests; data represent mean ± s.e.m.; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001. Scale bars for b 200 μm (left), 100 μm (middle), and 50 μm (right). PVT paraventricular thalamus, V₃ third ventricle, VMH ventromedial hypothalamus.