HSD2 neurons in the hindbrain drive sodium appetite

Nature Neuroscience 20, 167 (2017). doi:10.1038/nn.4451 Authors: Brooke C Jarvie & Richard D Palmiter Sodium-depleted animals develop an appetite for aversive concentrations of sodium. Here we show that chemogenetic activation of aldosterone-sensitive neurons that express 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD2) in the nucleus of the solitary tract is sufficient to drive consumption of sodium-containing solutions in mice, independently of thirst or hunger. These HSD2-positive neurons are necessary for full expression of sodium appetite and have distinct downstream targets that are activated during sodium depletion.
Source: Nature Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Brief Communication Source Type: research