Scientists studying obesity in mice have found a new type of brain cell that boosts appetite, even when the body is satiated for a long time.
For many years, only one type of neuron was thought to express neuropeptide Y , the molecule that gives NPY neurons their name, in this part of the brain.
Unlike other NPY-producing neurons, this new class does not also co-express the neurotransmitter AgRP, which is why the newly detailed neurons are described as 'AgRP-negative'. On the flip side, when excess energy is stored in the mouse body for extended periods, these same neurons keep expressing neuropeptides that boost appetite.
"These cells did not only produce NPY but also sensitized other parts of the brain to produce additional receptors or 'docking stations' for the molecule – supercharging appetite even further."
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