中国科学院脑科学与智能技术卓越创新中心（神经科学研究所）、神经科学国家重点实验室、上海脑科学与类脑研究中心张哲、梁智锋和许晓鸿研究组共同合作近期取得重要研究进展，他们研究发现下丘脑冷感受神经元能够控制体温稳态调控和社交行为引起的体温上升。该项研究成果2022年6月7日在线出版于《细胞—代谢》杂志上。

使用功能性磁共振成像和原位杂交技术，研究人员筛选了冷敏感神经元，发现下丘脑腹内侧 (dmVMH) 背内侧区域的前强啡肽 (PDYN) 表达细胞是候选者。随后的体内钙记录表明，低温激活了dmVMH^Pdyn神经元，而高温则抑制了它们。此外，dmVMH^Pdyn神经元的光遗传学激活增加了棕色脂肪组织和核心体温、心率和血压，而光遗传抑制则显示出相反的效果，支持它们在稳态产热中的作用。

此外，研究人员发现dmVMH^Pdyn神经元与已知的体温调节环路有关。重要的是，dmVMH^Pdyn神经元在小鼠社交互动过程中也表现出激活，并且光遗传学抑制，抑制了社交互动和相关的体温升高。总之，他们的研究描述了dmVMH^Pdyn神经元的双重功能，可以协调调节体温和社会行为。

据介绍，恒温动物的稳态产热是其重要的自我保护特征。然而，参与冷诱导产热的特异性神经元类型在很大程度上仍是未知的。

附：英文原文

Title: Cold-sensitive ventromedial hypothalamic neurons control homeostatic thermogenesis and social interaction-associated hyperthermia

Author: Chenzhang Feng, Ying Wang, Xi Zha, Huateng Cao, Shajin Huang, Dongdong Cao, Kaiwei Zhang, Tianyuan Xie, Xiaohong Xu, Zhifeng Liang, Zhe Zhang

Issue&Volume: 2022/06/07

Abstract: Homeostatic thermogenesis is an essential protective feature of endotherms. However,the specific neuronal types involved in cold-induced thermogenesis remain largelyunknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and in situ hybridization, we screened for cold-sensitive neurons and found preprodynorphin (PDYN)-expressingcells in the dorsal medial region of the ventromedial hypothalamus (dmVMH) to be acandidate. Subsequent in vivo calcium recording showed that cold temperature activates dmVMHPdyn neurons, whereas hot temperature suppresses them. In addition, optogenetic activationof dmVMHPdyn neurons increases the brown adipose tissue and core body temperature, heart rate,and blood pressure, whereas optogenetic inhibition shows opposite effects, supportingtheir role in homeostatic thermogenesis. Furthermore, we found that dmVMHPdyn neurons are linked to known thermoregulatory circuits. Importantly, dmVMHPdyn neurons also show activation during mouse social interaction, and optogenetic inhibitionsuppresses social interaction and associated hyperthermia. Together, our study describesdual functions of dmVMHPdyn neurons that allow coordinated regulation of body temperature and social behaviors.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.05.002

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(22)00184-X