AgRP Neurons Encode Circadian Feeding Time

Abstract

Food intake follows a predictable daily pattern and synchronizes metabolic rhythms. Neurons expressing Agouti-related protein (AgRP) read out physiological energetic state and elicit feeding, but the regulation of these neurons across daily timescales is poorly understood. Using a combination of neuron-dynamics measurements and timed optogenetic activation in mice, we show that daily AgRP-neuron activity was not fully consistent with existing models of homeostatic regulation. Instead of operating as deprivation counter, AgRP-neuron activity primarily followed the circadian rest-activity cycle through a process that required an intact suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and synchronization by light. Imposing novel feeding patterns through time-restricted food access or periodic AgRP-neuron stimulation was suffcient to resynchronize the daily AgRP-neuron activity rhythm and drive anticipatory-like behavior through a process that required DMHPDYN neurons. These results indicate that AgRP-neurons integrate time-of-day information of past feeding experience with current metabolic needs to predict circadian feeding time. This work is supported by NIH to D.A. R01DK126740. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.