Food and water intake are regulated by distinct central amygdala circuits revealed using intersectional genetics

Federica Fermani, Simon Chang, Ylenia Mastrodicasa, Christian Peters, Louise Gaitanos, Pilar L. Alcala Morales, Charu Ramakrishnan, Karl Deisseroth and Rüdiger Klein ()
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Federica Fermani: Max-Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
Simon Chang: University of Regensburg
Ylenia Mastrodicasa: Max-Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
Christian Peters: Max-Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
Louise Gaitanos: Max-Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
Pilar L. Alcala Morales: Max-Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence
Charu Ramakrishnan: Stanford University
Karl Deisseroth: Stanford University
Rüdiger Klein: Max-Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Abstract The central amygdala (CeA) plays a crucial role in defensive and appetitive behaviours. It contains genetically defined GABAergic neuron subpopulations distributed over three anatomical subregions, capsular (CeC), lateral (CeL), and medial (CeM). The roles that these molecularly- and anatomically-defined CeA neurons play in appetitive behavior remain unclear. Using intersectional genetics in mice, we found that neurons driving food or water consumption are confined to the CeM. Separate CeM subpopulations exist for water only versus water or food consumption. In vivo calcium imaging revealed that CeMHtr2a neurons promoting feeding are responsive towards appetitive cues with little regard for their physical attributes. CeMSst neurons involved in drinking are sensitive to the physical properties of salient stimuli. Both CeM subtypes receive inhibitory input from CeL and send projections to the parabrachial nucleus to promote appetitive behavior. These results suggest that distinct CeM microcircuits evaluate liquid and solid appetitive stimuli to drive the appropriate behavioral responses.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58144-3

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