Neuropeptide Y (NPY) produces anxiolytic effects in rodent models, and naturally occurring low NPY expression in humans has been associated with negative emotional phenotypes. Studies in rodent models have also demonstrated that NPY elicits reward behaviors through its action in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but the impact of NPY on the human NAc is largely unexplored. We recruited 222 healthy young adults of either sex and genetically selected 53 of these subjects at the extremes of NPY expression (Low-NPY and High-NPY) to participate in functional magnetic resonance imaging. Responses of the NAc and surrounding ventral striatum were quantified during a monetary incentive delay task in which stimuli varied by salience (high versus low) and valence (win versus loss). We found that bilateral NAc responses to high-salience versus low-salience stimuli were greater for Low-NPY subjects relative to High-NPY subjects, regardless of stimulus valence. To our knowledge, these results provide the first evidence in humans linking NPY with salience sensitivity of the NAc, raising the possibility that individual differences in NPY expression moderate the risk for disorders of mesoaccumbal function such as addictions and mood disorders. Additionally, we found that head motion was greater among High-NPY subjects, consistent with previous reports linking NPY with hyperactivity. Future studies in animal models are warranted to elucidate the neural mechanisms through which NPY influences NAc function and related behaviors.

中文翻译：

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神经肽Y和伏隔核中显着性的表示。

神经肽Y（NPY）在啮齿动物模型中产生抗焦虑作用，并且人类中自然发生的NPY低表达与负面情绪表型有关。在啮齿动物模型中的研究还表明，NPY通过其在伏伏核（NAc）中的作用引发奖励行为，但是NPY对人类NAc的影响在很大程度上尚待探索。我们招募了222名性别健康的年轻成年人，并通过基因选择了其中53名处于NPY表达极限（低NPY和高NPY）的受试者，以参与功能性磁共振成像。NAc和周围腹侧纹状体的反应在金钱激励延迟任务中量化，其中刺激因显着性（高与低）和化合价（获胜与缺失）而异。我们发现，相对于高NPY受试者，低NPY受试者对高显着性与低显着性刺激的双侧NAc反应更大，而与刺激价无关。据我们所知，这些结果为将NPY与NAc的显着敏感性联系起来的人类提供了第一个证据，从而增加了NPY表达的个体差异减缓了中成瘾性功能障碍（例如成瘾和情绪障碍）风险的可能性。此外，我们发现高NPY受试者的头部运动更大，这与先前将NPY与多动症联系起来的报道一致。有必要在动物模型中进行进一步的研究，以阐明NPY通过其影响NAc功能和相关行为的神经机制。据我们所知，这些结果为人类将NPY与NAc的显着敏感性联系起来提供了第一个证据，从而增加了NPY表达的个体差异减缓了中成瘾性功能障碍（例如成瘾和情绪障碍）风险的可能性。此外，我们发现高NPY受试者的头部运动更大，这与先前将NPY与多动症联系起来的报道一致。有必要在动物模型中进行进一步的研究，以阐明NPY通过其影响NAc功能和相关行为的神经机制。据我们所知，这些结果为人类将NPY与NAc的显着敏感性联系起来提供了第一个证据，从而增加了NPY表达的个体差异减缓了中成瘾性功能障碍（例如成瘾和情绪障碍）风险的可能性。此外，我们发现高NPY受试者的头部运动更大，这与先前将NPY与多动症联系起来的报道一致。有必要在动物模型中进行进一步的研究，以阐明NPY通过其影响NAc功能和相关行为的神经机制。此外，我们发现高NPY受试者的头部运动更大，这与先前将NPY与多动症联系起来的报道一致。有必要在动物模型中进行进一步的研究，以阐明NPY通过其影响NAc功能和相关行为的神经机制。此外，我们发现高NPY受试者的头部运动更大，这与先前将NPY与多动症联系起来的报道一致。有必要在动物模型中进行进一步的研究，以阐明NPY通过其影响NAc功能和相关行为的神经机制。