The central amygdala (CeA) consists of numerous genetically defined inhibitory neurons that control defensive and appetitive behaviors including feeding. Transcriptomic signatures of cell types and their links to function remain poorly understood. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, we describe nine CeA cell clusters, of which four are mostly associated with appetitive and two with aversive behaviors. To analyze the activation mechanism of appetitive CeA neurons, we characterized serotonin receptor 2a (Htr2a)–expressing neurons (CeA Htr2a ) that comprise three appetitive clusters and were previously shown to promote feeding. In vivo calcium imaging revealed that CeA Htr2a neurons are activated by fasting, the hormone ghrelin, and the presence of food. Moreover, these neurons are required for the orexigenic effects of ghrelin. Appetitive CeA neurons responsive to fasting and ghrelin project to the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) causing inhibition of target PBN neurons. These results illustrate how the transcriptomic diversification of CeA neurons relates to fasting and hormone-regulated feeding behavior.

中文翻译：

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转录组学揭示了通过禁食和生长素释放肽调节杏仁核神经元从而促进进食

中央杏仁核 (CeA) 由许多基因定义的抑制神经元组成，这些神经元控制防御和食欲行为，包括进食。细胞类型的转录组学特征及其与功能的联系仍然知之甚少。使用单核 RNA 测序，我们描述了九个 CeA 细胞簇，其中四个主要与食欲相关，两个与厌恶行为相关。为了分析食欲 CeA 神经元的激活机制，我们对表达 5-羟色胺受体 2a (Htr2a) 的神经元 (CeA) 进行了表征Htr2a)，包括三个食欲集群，之前被证明可以促进进食。体内钙成像显示 CeAHtr2a禁食、生长激素释放肽和食物会激活神经元。此外，这些神经元是生长素释放肽的促食欲作用所必需的。对禁食和生长素释放肽有反应的食欲 CeA 神经元投射到臂旁核 (PBN)，导致目标 PBN 神经元受到抑制。这些结果说明了 CeA 神经元的转录组学多样化如何与禁食和激素调节的进食行为相关。