An Mpoa-Arc(Agrp) Pathway Modulates Cold-Evoked Eating Behavior

Enhanced appetite occurs as a means of behavioral thermoregulation at low temperature. Neural circuitry mediating this crosstalk between behavioral thermoregulation and energy homeostasis remains to be elucidated. We find that the hypothalamic orexigenic agouti-related neuropeptide (AgRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) are profoundly activated by cold exposure. The calcium signals in ARC(AgRP) neurons display an immediate-response pattern in response to cold stimulation. Cold-responsive neurons in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) make excitatory synapses onto ARC(AgRP) neurons. Inhibition of either ARC(AgRP) neurons or ARCprojecting mPOA neurons attenuates cold-evoked feeding, while activation of the mPOA-to-ARC projection increases food intake. These findings reveal an mPOA-ARC AgRP neural pathway that modulates cold-evoked feeding behavior.