An mPOA-ARCAgRP pathway modulates cold-evoked eating behavior
Open accessAbstract
Enhanced appetite occurs as a means of behavioral thermoregulation at low temperature. Neural circuitry mediating this crosstalk between behavioral thermoregulation and energy homeostasis remains to be elucidated. We find that the hypothalamic orexigenic agouti-related neuropeptide (AgRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) are profoundly activated by cold exposure. The calcium signals in ARC AgRP neurons display an immediate-response pattern in response to cold stimulation. Cold-responsive neurons in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) make excitatory synapses onto ARC AgRP neurons. Inhibition of either ARC AgRP neurons or ARC-projecting mPOA neurons attenuates cold-evoked feeding, while activation of the mPOA-to-ARC projection increases food intake. These findings reveal an mPOA-ARC AgRP neural pathway that modulates cold-evoked feeding behavior.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
When body temperature falls in response to cold exposure, ArRP neurons are activated, which results in hunger-dependent feeding behaviour in mice.
“When body temperature falls in response to cold exposure, Yang et al. (2021) shows in mice that ArRP neurons are activated, which results in hunger-dependent feeding behaviour.”
From Influence of water-based exercise on energy intake, appetite, and appetite-related hormones in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2023) · cites this paper as Yang et al., 2021
Cites
Identification of a cold receptor reveals a general role for TRP channels in thermosensation
McKemy, D. D., Neuhausser, W., & Julius, D. J. (2002) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature719 · Cited by 2,716 · see citing works
Rapid, reversible activation of AgRP neurons drives feeding behavior in mice
Krashes, M. J., Koda, S., Ye, C., Rogan, S. C., Adams, A. C., Cusher, D. S., Maratos-Flier, E., Roth, B. L., & Lowell, B. B. (2011) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci46229 · Cited by 1,578 · see citing works
AGRP neurons are sufficient to orchestrate feeding behavior rapidly and without training
Aponte, Y., Atasoy, D., & Sternson, S. M. (2011) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn.2739 · Cited by 1,157 · see citing works
Regulation of Body Temperature by the Nervous System
Tan, C. L., & Knight, Z. A. (2018) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2018.02.022 · Cited by 798 · see citing works
Neurons for hunger and thirst transmit a negative-valence teaching signal
Betley, J. N., Xu, S., Cao, Z. F. H., Gong, R., Magnus, C. J., Yu, Y., & Sternson, S. M. (2015) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature14416 · Cited by 704 · see citing works
Sensory Detection of Food Rapidly Modulates Arcuate Feeding Circuits
Chen, Y., Lin, Y.-C., Kuo, T.-W., & Knight, Z. A. (2015) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.01.033 · Cited by 660 · see citing works
Toward a Wiring Diagram Understanding of Appetite Control
Andermann, M. L., & Lowell, B. B. (2017) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.014 · Cited by 606 · see citing works
An excitatory paraventricular nucleus to AgRP neuron circuit that drives hunger
Krashes, M. J., Shah, B. P., Madara, J. C., Olson, D. P., Strochlic, D. E., Garfield, A. S., Vong, L., Pei, H., Watabe-Uchida, M., Uchida, N., et al. (2014) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature12956 · Cited by 603 · see citing works
Parallel, Redundant Circuit Organization for Homeostatic Control of Feeding Behavior
Betley, J. N., Cao, Z. F. H., Ritola, K., & Sternson, S. M. (2013) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.002 · Cited by 591 · see citing works
Central Mechanisms for Thermoregulation
Morrison, S. F., & Nakamura, K. (2018) · Annual Review of Physiology · doi:10.1146/annurev-physiol-020518-114546 · Cited by 577 · see citing works
Thirst-associated preoptic neurons encode an aversive motivational drive.
Allen, W. E., DeNardo, L. A., Chen, M. Z., Liu, C. D., Loh, K. M., Fenno, L. E., Ramakrishnan, C., Deisseroth, K., & Luo, L. (2017) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aan6747 · Cited by 390 · see citing works
Three Pillars for the Neural Control of Appetite
Sternson, S. M., & Eiselt, A.-K. (2016) · Annual Review of Physiology · doi:10.1146/annurev-physiol-021115-104948 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
The dorsomedial hypothalamus: a new player in thermoregulation
DiMicco, J. A., & Zaretsky, D. V. (2006) · American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology · doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00498.2006 · Cited by 300 · see citing works
Whole-brain mapping of the direct inputs and axonal projections of POMC and AgRP neurons
Wang, D., He, X., Zhao, Z., Feng, Q., Lin, R., Sun, Y., Ding, T., Xu, F., Luo, M., & Zhan, C. (2015) · Frontiers in Neuroanatomy · doi:10.3389/fnana.2015.00040 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
Mandelblat-Cerf, Y., Ramesh, R. N., Burgess, C. R., Patella, P., Yang, Z., Lowell, B. B., & Andermann, M. L. (2015) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.07122 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
Hunger neurons drive feeding through a sustained, positive reinforcement signal.
Chen, Y., Lin, Y.-C., Zimmerman, C. A., Essner, R. A., & Knight, Z. A. (2016) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.18640 · Cited by 196 · see citing works
Andersson, B., & Larsson, B. (1961) · Acta Physiologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1748-1716.1961.tb02203.x · Cited by 183 · see citing works
Central nervous system circuits that control body temperature
Madden, C. J., & Morrison, S. F. (2018) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2018.11.027 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Estrogen-sensitive medial preoptic area neurons coordinate torpor in mice
Zhang, Z., Reis, F. M., He, Y., Park, J. W., DiVittorio, J. R., Sivakumar, N., van Veen, J. E., Maesta‐Pereira, S., Shum, M., Nichols, I., et al. (2020) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20050-1 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Preoptic mechanism for cold‐defensive responses to skin cooling
Nakamura, K., & Morrison, S. F. (2008) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2008.152686 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Functional architecture of behavioural thermoregulation
Flouris, A. D. (2010) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-010-1602-8 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Effects of heating and cooling of the spinal cord on preoptic unit activity
Guieu, J. D., & Hardy, J. D. (1970) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.1970.29.5.675 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Food intake and temperature regulation in rats with rostral hypothalamic lesions
HAMILTON, C. L., & Brobeck, J. R. (1964) · American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content · doi:10.1152/ajplegacy.1964.207.2.291 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Agouti-Related Protein Neuron Circuits That Regulate Appetite
Sternson, S. M., & Atasoy, D. (2014) · Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1159/000369072 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Cold-induced hyperphagia requires AgRP neuron activation in mice
Deem, J. D., Faber, C. L., Pedersen, C. E., Phan, B. A., Larsen, S. A., Ogimoto, K., Nelson, J. T., Damian, V. M., Tran, M. A., Palmiter, R. D., et al. (2020) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.58764 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Tao, C., Zhang, G., Huang, J., Li, Z., Tao, H. W., & Zhang, L. I. (2023) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-023-01397-2 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Self-citationSun, J., Yuan, Y., Wu, X., Liu, A., Wang, J., Yang, S., Liu, B., Kong, Y., Wang, L., Zhang, K., et al. (2022) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2022.08.010 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Self-citationSensory input, sex and function shape hypothalamic cell type development
Kaplan, H. S., Logeman, B. L., Zhang, K., Yawitz, T. A., Santiago, C., Sohail, N., Talay, M., Seo, C., Naumenko, S., Sui, S. J. H., et al. (2025) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08603-0 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Feng, C., Wang, Y., Zha, X., Cao, H., Huang, S., Cao, D., Zhang, K., Xie, T., Xu, X., Liang, Z., et al. (2022) · Cell Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2022.05.002 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Shin, S., You, I., Jeong, M., Bae, Y., Wang, X., Cawley, M. L., Han, A., & Lim, B. K. (2022) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-022-01208-0 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
A temperature-regulated circuit for feeding behavior
Qian, S., Yan, S., Pang, R., Zhang, J., Liu, K., Shi, Z., Wang, Z., Chen, P., Zhang, Y., Luo, T., et al. (2022) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31917-w · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Neuronal Regulation of Feeding and Energy Metabolism: A Focus on the Hypothalamus and Brainstem
Chen, J. W., Cai, M., & Zhan, C. (2024) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-024-01335-7 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Xiphoid nucleus of the midline thalamus controls cold-induced food seeking
Lal, N. K., Le, P., Aggarwal, S., Zhang, A., Wang, K., Qi, T., Pang, Z., Yang, D., Nudell, V., Yeo, G. W.-M., et al. (2023) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06430-9 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Dopamine systems and biological rhythms: Let’s get a move on
Tang, Q., Assali, D. R., Güler, A. D., & Steele, A. D. (2022) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2022.957193 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Kasuga, R., Shiraki, C., Horikawa, R., YOSHIMURA, R., Kurganov, E., & Miyata, S. (2022) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113729 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Wang, H., Li, F., Zheng, X., Meng, L., Chen, M., Hui, Y., Li, Y., Xie, K., Zhang, J., & Guo, G. (2022) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-022-02151-1 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Gui, Y., Dahir, N. S., Wu, Y., Downing, G., Sweeney, P. R., & Cone, R. D. (2023) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113188 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Shen, C., Shen, B., Liu, D., Han, L., Zou, K., Gan, L., Ren, J., Wu, B., Tang, Y., Zhao, J., et al. (2024) · Cell Reports Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101566 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Self-citationA neural circuit for sex-dependent conditioned pain hypersensitivity in mice
Zhang, M., Ni, Z., Ma, J., Liu, A., Liu, Y., Lou, Q., Dong, W., Zhang, Z., Li, J., & Cao, P. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-58851-x · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationHypothalamic AgRP neurons regulate the hyperphagia of lactation
Catalbas, K., Pattnaik, T., Congdon, S., Nelson, C., Villano, L., & Sweeney, P. R. (2024) · Molecular Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101975 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Fu, P., Liu, C.-P., Liu, C.-Y., Zhang, Y.-C.-F., Xu, J.-P., Mao, R.-T., Ding, X., Li, F., Zhang, Y.-L., Yang, H., et al. (2025) · Research · doi:10.34133/research.0701 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Identification of a neural basis for energy expenditure in the mouse arcuate hypothalamus
Wang, T., Han, S., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Li, Y., Xing, Z., Zhang, S., Xia, Y., Zhu, F., Chen, Z., et al. (2025) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2025.08.021 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationHigh-fat diet feeding disrupts the coupling of thermoregulation to energy homeostasis
Deem, J. D., Tingley, D., Watts, C. A., Ogimoto, K., Bryan, C. L., Phan, B. A., Damian, V. M., Bruchas, M. R., Scarlett, J. M., Schwartz, M. W., et al. (2023) · Molecular Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101835 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Parabrachial nucleus neuron circuits that control feeding behavior and energy balance
Zhao, Z., Chen, Y., Xuan, Y., Zhou, G., & Qiu, W. (2023) · Obesity Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.obmed.2023.100509 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Grigg, M. J., Thake, C. D., Allgrove, J. E., King, J. A., Thackray, A. E., Stensel, D. J., Owen, A., & Broom, D. R. (2023) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2022.106375 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Luo, P., Tong, K., Gan, Y., Tang, M., Niu, Y., Liu, K., Ni, S., Wu, S., Jiang, X., Jiang, H., et al. (2025) · Advanced Science · doi:10.1002/advs.202502421 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Cortical regulation of collective social dynamics during environmental challenge
Raam, T., Li, Q., Gu, L., Elagio, G., Lim, K. Y., Taimish, J. Y., Zhang, X., Sandoval, N. P., Correa, S. M., & Hong, W. (2026) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02224-0 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationSenol, E., Wang, M., Xin, Y., Jiao, Z., Mohammad, H., Yeo, X. Y., Si, T., Young, D. M., Huang, H., Wang, Y., et al. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-60585-9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationLateral Habenula Neurons Signal Cold Aversion and Participate in Cold Aversion
Liu, R., Xiang, H., Liu, C., Jiang, Q., Liang, Y., Wang, G., Wang, L., Sun, Y., & Yang, G. (2023) · Neurochemical Research · doi:10.1007/s11064-023-04076-7 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Grigg, M. J., Thake, C. D., Allgrove, J. E., & Broom, D. R. (2025) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.114914 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Regulation of Feeding Behavior and Body Weight by Orexigenic Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus
Fu, Y. (2025) · Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome · doi:10.7570/jomes25059 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationAn obligatory role for AgRP neurons in maintaining body temperature during time-restricted feeding
Su, C., Cai, J., Xu, Y., Arenkiel, B. R., & Tong, Q. (2026) · Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2026.156595 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Preoptic Neural Circuitry for Dramatic and Gentle Thermoregulation
Pang, R., Yu, H., Wang, J., Shi, Z., Wen, H., Wu, G., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., Wei, Q., Li, B., et al. (2025) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-025-01434-z · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationXiphoid nucleus of the midline thalamus controls cold-induced food seekingPreprint
Lal, N. K., Le, P., Aggarwal, S., Zhang, A., Wang, K., Qi, T., Pang, Z., Yang, D., Nudell, V., Yeo, G. W.-M., et al. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.03.16.533067 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Medial preoptic area FoxO1 controls metabolic adaptation in a sexually dimorphic mannerPreprint
Luo, P., Yang, X., Xu, Q., How, L. L., Irizarry, V. C. T., CARRILLO-SÁENZ, L., Munoz, M. D., Dong, W., Ibrahimi, L., Schaul, S., et al. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.06.25.661575 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Sajjaviriya, C., Fujianti, Azuma, M., Tsuchiya, H., & Koshimizu, T. (2024) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171226 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
GLP-2 attenuates antipsychotics’ adverse metabolic effects
Pereira, S., & Hahn, M. (2025) · Nature Metabolism · doi:10.1038/s42255-025-01248-3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Chai, H., Zhao, D., Yu, X., Shaoshuai, Z., Ji, F., Peng, W., Song, J., Diao, X., & Wu, H. (2026) · Agriculture · doi:10.3390/agriculture16141508 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Parabrachial neurons orchestrate cold-induced homeostatic responses
Jung, S., Kondaurova, A., Lee, M., Kwon, J. J., Shin, H., & Kim, S. (2026) · Nature Metabolism · doi:10.1038/s42255-026-01565-1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Temporal regulation of AgRP neurons mediates context-induced feedingPreprint
Reed, F. M., Dempsey, H., Clarke, R., Reichenbach, A., Méquinion, M., Stark, R., Rawlinson, S., Foldi, C. J., Lockie, S. H., & Andrews, Z. B. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.01.30.526347
Liu, J., Zhang, W., Bai, Y., Fu, R., Lin, M., Li, J., Nie, L., Dang, X., Wang, Q., Zhu, Y., et al. (2025) · Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1159/000544839
Identification of a neural basis for energy expenditure in the arcuate hypothalamusPreprint
Wang, T., Han, S., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Zhang, S., Zhu, F., Chen, Z., Xing, Z., Li, Y. Z., Wang, J., et al. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.03.11.642601
Self-citationNeural Circuit Remodeling Underlying Enhanced Feeding During Pregnancy in MicePreprint
Inada, K., Tasaka, G., Hagihara, M., Kobayashi, K., Yukinaga, H., & Miyamichi, K. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.08.07.669199
Thermal challenge and food intake: Mutual regulatory mechanisms
Alpár, A. (2025) · Neural Regeneration Research · doi:10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-25-00170
The Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Orchestrates Energy Homeostasis during Cold ExposurePreprint
Perez, M. L., Gao, X., Heimerl, L., Wang, Y., Schnabl, K., Firzlaff, U., Luksch, H., Klingenspor, M., Uhlenhaut, N. H., Wang, D., et al. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.09.18.677113
Recent progress in understanding hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis
ZHANG, Z., Yu, Z. E. N. G., Cui, Z., & TieMin, L. I. U. (2026) · Scientia Sinica Vitae · doi:10.1360/ssv-2025-0283
Molecular and functional heterogeneity of hypothalamic preoptic neurons
Carta, I., Arora, T., Bambah-Mukku, D., & Autry, A. E. (2026) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106891
Central circuits in control of energy expenditure: connecting energy and temperature homeostasis
Kinney, C., Kaiser, L., Morrison, C. D., Hr, B., & Münzberg, H. (2026) · Journal of Comparative Physiology B · doi:10.1007/s00360-026-01688-7
A hypothalamic neuronal population coordinates metabolic adaptations to cold
Liu, H., Liu, Q., Bean, J. C., Wang, F., Jian, J., Li, Y., Conde, K., Wang, M., Deng, Y., Yang, Y., et al. (2026) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.024
Self-citation
- Authors
- Yang, S., Tan, Y. L., Wu, X., Wang, J., Sun, J., Liu, A., Gan, L., Shen, B., Zhang, X., Fu, Y., & Huang, J.
- Affiliations
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SG)
- Fudan University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Huang, Ju
- Venue
- Cell Reports
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-08
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 109502
- ISSN
- 2211-1247 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3187695507
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8
- FWCI
- 2.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cell Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- agouti-related protein, arcuate nucleus, medial preoptic area, hypothalamic neurons, behavioral thermoregulation, energy homeostasis, appetite, dietary intake, neural circuits, calcium signaling, excitatory synapses
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus, Cold Temperature, Feeding Behavior, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Preoptic Area, Synapses, Mice, Agouti-Related Protein
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review