Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in human obesity. Yet, the neural circuitry supporting the BDNF-mediated control of energy homeostasis remains largely undefined. To map key regions that might provide inputs to or receive inputs from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) BDNF neurons, a key type of cells in regulating feeding and thermogenesis, we used rabies virus-based transsynaptic labeling and adeno-associated virus based anterograde tracing techniques to reveal their whole-brain distributions. We found that dozens of brain regions provide dense inputs to or receive dense inputs from PVN BDNF neurons, including several known weight control regions and several novel regions that might be functionally important for the BDNF-mediated regulation of energy homeostasis. Interestingly, several regions show very dense reciprocal connections with PVN BDNF neurons, including the lateral septum, the preoptic area, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, the zona incerta, the lateral parabrachial nucleus, the subiculum, the raphe magnus nucleus, and the raphe pallidus nucleus. These strong anatomical connections might be indicative of important functional connections. Therefore, we provide an outline of potential neural circuitry mediated by PVN BDNF neurons, which might be helpful to resolve the complex obesity network.

脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在人类肥胖中起着至关重要的作用。但是，支持BDNF介导的能量稳态控制的神经回路仍很不确定。为了绘制可能为脑室旁核（PVN）BDNF神经元提供输入或从其接收输入的关键区域，BDNF神经元是调节进食和生热的关键细胞类型，我们使用了基于狂犬病病毒的经突触标记和基于腺相关病毒的顺行性示踪技术揭示他们的全脑分布。我们发现数十个大脑区域向PVN BDNF神经元提供密集的输入或从PVN BDNF神经元接受密集的输入，包括几个已知的体重控制区域和几个对BDNF介导的能量稳态调节功能可能很重要的新颖区域。有趣的是，多个区域显示出与PVN BDNF神经元非常紧密的相互联系，包括外侧中隔，视前区，下丘脑腹膜前核，丘脑旁丘脑核，不透明带，臂外侧旁核，下丘脑，睑裂大核，以及睑裂苍白球核。这些牢固的解剖连接可能表明重要的功能连接。因此，我们提供了由PVN BDNF神经元介导的潜在神经回路的概述，这可能有助于解决复杂的肥胖症网络。和花边的苍白球核。这些牢固的解剖连接可能表明重要的功能连接。因此，我们提供了由PVN BDNF神经元介导的潜在神经回路的概述，这可能有助于解决复杂的肥胖症网络。和花边的苍白球核。这些牢固的解剖连接可能表明重要的功能连接。因此，我们提供了由PVN BDNF神经元介导的潜在神经回路的概述，这可能有助于解决复杂的肥胖症网络。