Fig. 2: PVHCCK encodes chronic visceral pain-induced change in food preference. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: PVHCCK encodes chronic visceral pain-induced change in food preference.

From: Paraventricular hypothalamic input to anterior cingulate cortex controls food preferences in chronic visceral pain mice

Fig. 2

a Representative images of c-Fos expression after CRD stimulation and the total number of c-Fos-expressing neurons (n = 3 mice, p < 0.0001). Scale bar:20 µm. b Representative images of coexpressing c-Fos (green) and CCK (red) neurons and the percentage of coexpressing c-Fos in the PVH (n = 3 mice). Scale bar:20 µm. c Schematic of the optical fiber photometry assay and representative images of EGFP expression in the PVH. Scale bar:20 µm. d Heatmaps and average calcium activity showing Ca2+ signals time-locked to the CRD stimulus in NCI and CON mice. e Area under the curve of Ca2+ activity in PVH CCK-positive neurons from NCI and CON mice receiving CRD stimulation (n = 7 mice, p = 0.0022). f Schematic of viral injection (top) and the experimental protocol of chemogenetics (bottom) and representative images of mCherry expression in the PVH. Scale bar:20 µm. g Heatmaps of mouse location during the free-feeding tests. h Colorectal distention (CRD) threshold changes before and after hM3Dq activation of PVHCCK neurons in CON mice (n = 9 mice/group, p < 0.0001). i Percentage of time and intake for each type of food before and after hM3Dq activation of PVHCCK neurons in CON mice (n = 9 mice/group, Food intake percentage: p < 0.0001; Food zone time: p = 0.0049 in IL and p = 0.0097 in S). j Correlation between the percentage of food zone time and percentage of food intake (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6688). k CRD threshold before and after hM4Di inhibition of PVHCCK neurons in NCI mice (n = 9 mice/group, p < 0.0001). l The percentage of food zone time and intake for each food type before and after hM4Di inhibition of PVHCCK neurons in NCI mice (n = 9 mice/group, Food intake percentage: p < 0.0001; Food zone time: p = 0.0013 in IL and p = 0.032 in S). m Correlation between the percentage of food zone time and percentage of food intake (p = 0.0025, r = 0.5153). All the data are presented as the means ± SEMs. Two-sided student’s t test (a, e). Two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparisons test (i, l). Ordinary one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test (h, k). Linear regression and Correlation (j, m). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.

Back to article page