Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors
The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates stress responses and defensive behaviors. However, the neural mechanisms underlying its involvement in threat perception remain incompletely understood. Under exposure to the predatory odor, we found that mice showed decreased investigative behaviors and...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Brain Research Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036192302500259X |
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| author | Ting He |
| author_facet | Ting He |
| author_sort | Ting He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates stress responses and defensive behaviors. However, the neural mechanisms underlying its involvement in threat perception remain incompletely understood. Under exposure to the predatory odor, we found that mice showed decreased investigative behaviors and increased latency to contact with the box with odors. Using single-unit recordings, we observed that the VMH neurons were active during the investigative behavior under exposure to the predatory odor. Notably, prodynorphin (PDYN)-expressing neurons, enriched with neuropeptides within the VMH, were activated by the investigative behavior under exposure to the predatory odor, independent of locomotor activity. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of these PDYN-expressing neurons induced escape-like behaviors and place aversion in male mice, highlighting their functional involvement in threat processing. These findings indicate that PDYN-expressing neurons in the VMH are specifically tuned to detect threat stimuli and play a role in modulating defensive behaviors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e32b0cee058548da86e799b9ff0cc786 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1873-2747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Research Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-e32b0cee058548da86e799b9ff0cc7862025-08-20T03:22:30ZengElsevierBrain Research Bulletin1873-27472025-09-0122911144710.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111447Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviorsTing He0MOE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThe ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates stress responses and defensive behaviors. However, the neural mechanisms underlying its involvement in threat perception remain incompletely understood. Under exposure to the predatory odor, we found that mice showed decreased investigative behaviors and increased latency to contact with the box with odors. Using single-unit recordings, we observed that the VMH neurons were active during the investigative behavior under exposure to the predatory odor. Notably, prodynorphin (PDYN)-expressing neurons, enriched with neuropeptides within the VMH, were activated by the investigative behavior under exposure to the predatory odor, independent of locomotor activity. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of these PDYN-expressing neurons induced escape-like behaviors and place aversion in male mice, highlighting their functional involvement in threat processing. These findings indicate that PDYN-expressing neurons in the VMH are specifically tuned to detect threat stimuli and play a role in modulating defensive behaviors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036192302500259XVentromedial hypothalamusProdynorphinThreat perceptionThe predatory odorEscape behaviorsin vivo recordings |
| spellingShingle | Ting He Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors Brain Research Bulletin Ventromedial hypothalamus Prodynorphin Threat perception The predatory odor Escape behaviors in vivo recordings |
| title | Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors |
| title_full | Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors |
| title_fullStr | Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors |
| title_short | Prodynorphin-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors |
| title_sort | prodynorphin expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus respond to the predatory odor and modulate defensive behaviors |
| topic | Ventromedial hypothalamus Prodynorphin Threat perception The predatory odor Escape behaviors in vivo recordings |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036192302500259X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tinghe prodynorphinexpressingneuronsintheventromedialhypothalamusrespondtothepredatoryodorandmodulatedefensivebehaviors |