In this image, we are not looking at a butterfly but at different types of neurons in the hypothalamus of an animal model. In red, the neurons described as excitatory and in green the neurons described as inhibitory. The population of neurons marked in white corresponds to POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin) neurons, which are responsible, among other things, for the sensation of satiety when they are activated. Finally, blue corresponds to a neuronal activation marker.

The aim of this fluorescent labelling is to study the activation of POMC neurons when there is access to food. The scientists wish to determine whether this activation is associated with excitation or inhibition of the neurons.

This work is part of a wider project aimed at better defining the subpopulations of POMC neurons and the consequences of their activity on the regulation of body weight and food intake, since these neurons are more heterogeneous than previously thought.

Vincent Simon (Cota team)