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Publication Spotlight: McCutcheon Lab

August 25, 2021

 

Congratulations to the McCutcheon Lab at at the Arctic University of Norway, which recently published a paper in the Journal of Neuroscience entitled “Protein Appetite Drives Macronutrient-Related Differences in Ventral Tegmental Area Neural Activity“.

The McCutcheon Lab, which focuses its research on how the brain controls appetite and our food choices, was interested in the role of the brain in regulating protein uptake – particularly the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which controls food-related processes. By combining TDT’s fiber photometry with a conditioned flavor preference paradigm (protein vs carbohydrate), it was observed that protein restriction led to a greater VTA response during protein consumption (compared to carbohydrate consumption). In addition, previous protein restriction induced long-lasting changes in behavior and VTA responses after the diet was switched back to normal. These results suggest the importance of the VTA in protein appetite and diet regulation.


BONUS! Two of the paper’s authors now have their own labs with TDT systems, proving that a happy customer is a loyal customer!

Naneix Lab at the University of Aberdeen
Snoeren Lab at the Arctic University of Norway


 

McCutcheon lab results - non-restricted vs. protein-restricted

G. Chiacchierini, F. Naneix, K.Z. Peters, J. Apergis-Schoute, E.M.S. Snoeren, J.E. McCutcheon. Protein Appetite Drives Macronutrient-Related Differences in Ventral Tegmental Area Neural Activity.

 

Tags:   publication spotlightfiber photometry