Parabrachial nucleus neuron circuits that control feeding behavior and energy balance

Abstract

Obesity, together with its associated comorbidities such as diabetes, is a worldwide public health concern, and understanding the underlying mechanism of it remains a challenging task. The central nervous system, specifically the neuron circuits regulating feeding behavior, plays a crucial role in maintaining energy balance, offering promising avenues for exploring the pharmacology and physiology of energy balance in terms of dealing with obesity. This review provides an overview of current research on the effects of the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) on feeding behavior and energy balance and discusses the behavioral and neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie the identified effects. Current evidence suggests that the PBN neuronal activity and molecules modulate feeding behavior via several pathways, including mediating aversive and reward related satiation and/or satiety and orexigenic regulation of feeding. Further research is required to gain insight into the wiring of PBN circuits involved in the control of reward associated feeding control, as well as synergistic effects of local PBN circuits on feeding behavior regulation.