scholarly journals The fly liquid-food electroshock assay (FLEA) suggests opposite roles for neuropeptide F in avoidance of bitterness and shock

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Puskar Mishra ◽  
Shany E. Yang ◽  
Austin B. Montgomery ◽  
Addison R. Reed ◽  
Aylin R. Rodan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Aversive Stimulus ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Incentive Motivation ◽  
Liquid Food ◽  
Motivated Behavior ◽  
Neuropeptide F ◽  
Genetically Manipulated ◽  
External Incentives

Abstract Background Proper regulation of feeding is important for an organism’s well-being and survival and involves a motivational component directing the search for food. Dissecting the molecular and neural mechanisms of motivated feeding behavior requires assays that allow quantification of both motivation and food intake. Measurements of motivated behavior usually involve assessing physical effort or overcoming an aversive stimulus. Food intake in Drosophila can be determined in a number of ways, including by measuring the time a fly’s proboscis interacts with a food source associated with an electrical current in the fly liquid-food interaction counter (FLIC). Here, we show that electrical current flowing through flies during this interaction is aversive, and we describe a modified assay to measure motivation in Drosophila. Results Food intake is reduced during the interaction with FLIC when the electrical current is turned on, which provides a confounding variable in studies of motivated behavior. Based on the FLIC, we engineer a novel assay, the fly liquid-food electroshock assay (FLEA), which allows for current adjustments for each feeding well. Using the FLEA, we show that both external incentives and internal motivational state can serve as drivers for flies to overcome higher current (electric shock) to obtain superior food. Unlike similar assays in which bitterness is the aversive stimulus for the fly to overcome, we show that current perception is not discounted as flies become more food-deprived. Finally, we use genetically manipulated flies to show that neuropeptide F, an orthologue of mammalian NPY previously implicated in regulation of feeding motivation, is required for sensory processing of electrical current. Conclusion The FLEA is therefore a novel assay to accurately measure incentive motivation in Drosophila. Using the FLEA, we also show that neuropeptide F is required for proper perception or processing of an electroshock, a novel function for this neuropeptide involved in the processing of external and internal stimuli.

The fly liquid-food electroshock assay (FLEA) reveals opposite roles for neuropeptide F in avoidance of bitterness and shock

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puskar Mishra ◽  
Shany E. Yang ◽  
Austin B. Montgomery ◽  
Addison R. Reed ◽  
Aylin R. Rodan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Aversive Stimulus ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Incentive Motivation ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Liquid Food ◽  
Neuropeptide F ◽  
External Incentives

ABSTRACTProper regulation of feeding is important for an organism’s well-being and survival. Food intake in Drosophila can be determined in a number of ways, including by measuring the time a fly’s proboscis interacts with a food source in the fly liquid-food interaction counter (FLIC). Here, we show that electrical current flowing through flies during this interaction is aversive and leads to a reduction in food intake. Based on the FLIC, we engineer a novel assay, the fly liquid-food electroshock assay (FLEA), which allows for current adjustments for each feeding well. Using the FLEA, we show that both external incentives as well as internal motivational state can serve as drivers for flies to overcome higher current (electric shock) to obtain superior food. Unlike similar assays in which bitterness is the aversive stimulus for the fly to overcome, we show that current perception is not discounted as flies become more food-deprived. The FLEA is therefore a novel assay to accurately measure incentive motivation in Drosophila. Using the FLEA, we also show that neuropeptide F is required for proper perception or processing of an electroshock, a novel function for this neuropeptide involved in processing of external and internal stimuli.Significance StatementMany neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression or addiction, are associated with alterations in motivated behavior. Assays measuring incentive motivation determine how driven an organism is to attain a goal, like food, or how attractive an incentive is. These tests require the animal to put effort into obtaining the reward, which can include physical work or overcoming an aversive stimulus. Such assays for Drosophila feeding have relied on flies overcoming bitterness to obtain their food. However, the perception of bitterness is discounted as flies become food deprived, confounding the interpretation. Here, we developed a novel assay that does not suffer from the same shortcomings and thus allows for more accurate assessments of incentive motivation in this widely used model organism.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Food Consumption to Well-Being

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (Suppl. 2) ◽  
pp. 44-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Holder
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Personal Strengths ◽  
The Relationship

The newly emerging field of positive psychology focuses on the positive facets of life, including happiness, life satisfaction, personal strengths, and flourishing. Research in this field has empirically identified many important benefits of enhanced well-being, including improvements in blood pressure, immune competence, longevity, career success, and satisfaction with personal relationships. Recognizing these benefits has motivated researchers to identify the correlates and causes of well-being to inform them in the development and testing of strategies and interventions to elevate well-being. As positive psychology researchers throughout the world have turned their attention toward facets of food intake, a consensus is developing that the consumption of healthy foods can enhance well-being in a dose-response fashion. The link between unhealthy foods and well-being is less clear. Some studies suggest that under certain conditions, fast food may increase happiness, though other studies demonstrate that fast food can indirectly undermine happiness. The positive impact of food consumption on well-being is not limited to what people consume but extends to how they consume it and social factors related to eating. Though the research suggests that our food intake, particularly fruits and vegetables, increases our well-being, this research is in its infancy. Research specifically focused on subpopulations, including infants and pregnant mothers, is mostly lacking, and the mechanisms that underlie the relationship between food consumption and well-being remain to be elucidated.

scholarly journals Cloning and Expression of the Neuropeptide F and Neuropeptide F Receptor Genes and Their Regulation of Food Intake in the Chinese White Pine Beetle Dendroctonus armandi

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Liu ◽  
Danyang Fu ◽  
Haiming Gao ◽  
Hang Ning ◽  
Yaya Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Cloning And Expression ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Chinese White ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Neuropeptide F ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Neuropeptide F (NPF) is an important signaling molecule that acts as a neuromodulator to regulate a diversity of physiological and behavioral processes from vertebrates to invertebrates by interaction with NPF receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). However, nothing is known about NPF in Chinese white pine beetle, Dendroctonus armandi, a destructive pest of natural and coniferous forests in the middle Qinling Mountains of China. We have cloned and characterized cDNAs encoding one NPF precursor and two NPF receptors in D. armandi and made bioinformatics predictions according to the deduced amino acid sequences. They were highly similar to that of Dendroctonus ponderosa. The transcription levels of these genes were different between larvae and adults of sexes, and there were significant differences among the different developmental stages and tissues and between beetles under starvation and following re-feeding states. Additionally, downregulation of NPF and NPFR by injecting dsRNA into beetles reduced their food intake, caused increases of mortality and decreases of body weight, and also resulted in a decrease of glycogen and free fatty acid and an increase of trehalose. These results indicate that the NPF signaling pathway plays a significant positive role in the regulation of food intake and provides a potential target for the sustainable management of this pest.

scholarly journals A Mobile Phone App Designed to Support Weight Loss Maintenance and Well-Being (MotiMate): Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Brindal ◽  
Gilly A Hendrie ◽  
Jill Freyne ◽  
Manny Noakes
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Full Version ◽  
Randomized Controlled

BACKGROUND Few people successfully maintain lost weight over the longer term. Mobile phones have the potential to deliver weight loss management programs that can encourage self-monitoring while also providing some behavioral therapy to assist users in developing personal skills that may be necessary for improved longer term weight loss maintenance. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate a program supporting weight maintenance, which uses a behaviorally based mobile phone app to manage weight, food, exercise, mood, and stress. METHODS In a randomized controlled trial over 24 weeks, the full version of the app (MotiMate) was compared with a control app (monitoring only; excluding mood and stress) for its effect on weight, diet, and psychological well-being. Both apps had the same visual appearance and were designed to deliver all intervention content without face-to-face contact. The control version included features to track weight, food intake, and exercise with limited feedback and no encouraging/persuasive features. The intervention app included more persuasive and interactive features to help users track their weight, food intake, and physical activity and prompted users to enter data each day through notifications and included a mood and stress workshopping tool. Participants were recruited through advertising and existing databases. Clinic visits occurred at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. At all visits, the clinical trial manager recorded body weight, and participants then completed a computer-delivered survey, which measured psychological and lifestyle outcomes. Objective app usage data were recorded throughout the trial. RESULTS A total of 88 adults who had lost and maintained at least 5% of their body weight within the last 2 years were randomized (45 MotiMate and 43 control). Overall, 75% (66/88) were female, and 69% (61/88) completed week 24 with no differences in dropout by condition (χ21, 87=0.7, P=.49). Mixed models suggested no significant changes in weight or psychological outcomes over 24 weeks regardless of condition. Of 61 completers, 53% (32/61) remained within 2% of their starting weight. Significant increases occurred over 24 weeks for satisfaction with life and weight loss self-efficacy regardless of app condition. Diet and physical activity behaviors did not vary by app or week. Negative binomial models indicated that those receiving the full app remained active users of the app for 46 days longer than controls (P=.02). Users of the full version of the app also reported that they felt more supported than those with the control app (P=.01). CONCLUSIONS Although some aspects of the intervention app such as usage and user feedback showed promise, there were few observable effects on behavioral and psychological outcomes. Future evaluation of the app should implement alternative research methods or target more specific populations to better understand the utility of the coping interface. CLINICALTRIAL Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry  ACTRN12614000474651; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=366120

Satiating effect of bombesin is mediated by receptors perfused by celiac artery

1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (3) ◽  
pp. R614-R618 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Kirkham ◽  
J. Gibbs ◽  
G. P. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Intraperitoneal Injection ◽  
Mesenteric Artery ◽  
Celiac Artery ◽  
Mesenteric Arteries ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Liquid Food ◽  
Catheterization Technique ◽  
Direct Administration ◽  
Upper Abdominal

The abdominal site or sites for the satiety action of exogenous, peripherally administered bombesin (BN) were investigated. By use of a chronic arterial catheterization technique, the effects of 1, 2, and 4 micrograms/kg BN on liquid food intake of nondeprived male rats were assessed. Comparisons were made between the effects of these doses infused into the celiac or superior mesenteric arteries or injected intraperitoneally. The satiating potency of exogenous BN was significantly enhanced by direct administration into the celiac artery, which directly perfuses the stomach, pancreas, liver, spleen, and proximal duodenum. By this route, 4 micrograms/kg BN produced greater than 60% suppression of 15-min food intake. By contrast, BN infused into the superior mesenteric artery was no more effective than intraperitoneal injection. Celiac infusion of 1 micrograms/kg BN produced a suppression (30%) of intake that was equivalent to, or exceeded, that obtained after intraperitoneal injection or superior mesenteric infusion of 4 micrograms/kg. These results strongly support an upper abdominal, and possibly gastric, site for the satiety action of peripherally administered BN.

scholarly journals Analgesic treatment limits surrogate parameters for early stress and pain response after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Staib-Lasarzik ◽  
Nadine Nagel ◽  
Anne Sebastiani ◽  
Eva-Verena Griemert ◽  
Serge C. Thal
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Analgesic Treatment ◽  
Perioperative Analgesia ◽  
Sham Surgery ◽  
Stress Levels

Abstract Background In animal research, authorities require a classification of anticipated pain levels and a perioperative analgesia protocol prior to approval of the experiments. However, data on this topic is rare and so is the reported use of analgesics. We determined surrogate parameters of pain and general well-being after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), as well as the potential for improvement by different systemic analgesia paradigms. Brain injury was induced by filament perforation to mimic SAH. Sham-operated mice were included as surgical control groups with either neck or no-neck preparation. Mice with controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury were included as a control group with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but without neck preparation. Mice were randomized to buprenorphine, carprofen, meloxicam, or vehicle treatment. 24 h after SAH, CCI or sham surgery, pain and stress levels were assessed with a visual assessment score and the amount of food intake was recorded. Results Neck preparation, which is required to expose the surgical field for SAH induction, already increased pain/stress levels and sham surgeries for both CCI and SAH reduced food intake. Pain/stress levels were higher and food intake was lower after SAH compared with CCI. Pain/stress levels after CCI without analgesic treatment were similar to levels after SAH sham surgery. Pain treatment with buprenorphine was effective to reduce pain after SAH, whereas lower pain/stress intensity levels after CCI were not improved. Conclusion This study emphasizes the importance of pain and stress assessment after surgeries and the efficacy of buprenorphine to improve pain and comfort levels after experimental SAH.

scholarly journals DrosophilaShort Neuropeptide F Regulates Food Intake and Body Size

2004 ◽  
Vol 279 (49) ◽  
pp. 50781-50789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu-Sun Lee ◽  
Kwan-Hee You ◽  
Jong-Kil Choo ◽  
Yong-Mahn Han ◽  
Kweon Yu
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Neuropeptide F

scholarly journals Possibilities for Maintaining Appetite in Recovering COVID-19 Patients

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 464
Author(s):  
Alexander Teymour Zadeh Baboli Høier ◽  
Nora Chaaban ◽  
Barbara Vad Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Hedonic Value ◽  
Trigeminal Stimulation ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Desire To Eat ◽  
Depth Interviews

COVID-19 and sequelae thereof are known to cause chemosensory dysfunction, posing a risk for intake and adequate nutrition for recovery. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the subjective strategies for maintaining appetite applied by patients recovering from COVID-19. The study included 19 in-depth interviews, focusing on patients suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19. The results were analysed using a thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results on strategies for maintaining appetite included four key themes: (1) a focus on well-functioning senses, (2) a focus on familiar foods, (3) a focus on the eating environment, and (4) a focus on post-ingestive well-being. It was found that factors prior to, during and after food intake, as well as the context, could influence desire to eat and pleasure related to food intake. As ageusia and anosmia make characterization of food difficult, being able to recognize and memorize its flavour was important to engage in consumption. Under normal circumstances, the hedonic value of food relies predominantly on the flavour of foods. When suffering from chemosensory dysfunction, shifting focus towards the texture of food, including trigeminal stimulation during consumption, were beneficial for maintaining appetite and food-related pleasure. Furthermore, a focus on the holistic satisfying feelings of choosing healthy food, as well as a focus on other people’s enjoyment during meals were reported to boost well-being around food intake. The study elaborated our understanding of the complex consequences of COVID-19, and can be applied in health promoting initiatives targeted patients recovering from COVID-19.

scholarly journals Cloud-Based Commensality: Enjoy the Company of Co-diners Without Social Facilitation of Eating

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chujun Wang ◽  
Yubin Peng ◽  
Linbo Qiu ◽  
Xiaoang Wan
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Digital Space ◽  
Unhealthy Eating ◽  
Chinese Young Adults ◽  
Shed Light

Previous research has associated frequently enforced solo dining with negative consequences on psychological well-being, but the problem of having to eat alone may be solved by seeking mealtime companions in the digital space by watching an eating broadcast (i.e., Mukbang) or videoconferencing with others (i.e., cloud-based commensality). We conducted the present study to compare the consequences of Mukbang-based, cloud-based, and in-person commensality. Ninety-five healthy Chinese young adults were instructed to rate images of eating scenarios and foods. The results revealed that they expected loneliness to be reduced by Mukbang-based or in-person commensality, but they were also aware of the risks of enhancing food intake and/or being shifted toward less healthy food choices in these two scenarios. By contrast, the participants expected cloud-based commensality to provide the benefits of reducing loneliness without the health-compromising risks of increasing food intake or unhealthy eating. Collectively, these findings suggest the beliefs of the participants that cloud-based commensality can provide an “alone but together” context to balance the need for social interactions with the strategic avoidance of a social context facilitating unhealthy eating. The findings also provide some novel insights into how the application of technologies for eating behavior can be used to integrate social factors and food pleasure, and shed light on the promising future of cloud-based commensality as a combination of the strengths of solitary and commensal eating.

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