Cited by 482Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorRegulation of Appetite and ObesityNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Expression of receptors for insulin and leptin in the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN) of the rat

Figlewicz, D.P, Evans, S.B, Murphy, J, Hoen, M, Baskin, D.G·2003·Brain Research

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that the metabolic hormones insulin and leptin can modulate behavioral performance in reward-related paradigms. However, specific anatomical substrate(s) within the CNS for these effects remain to be identified. We hypothesize that midbrain dopamine neurons, which have been implicated to be critical in the mediation of motivational and reward aspects of stimuli, contribute to these behavioral effects of insulin and leptin. As one approach to evaluate this hypothesis, we used double-labeling fluorescence immunohistochemistry to determine whether the midbrain dopamine neurons express insulin receptors or leptin receptors. Extensive co-expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (a marker for dopamine neurons) with both the insulin receptor and the leptin receptor was observed in the ventral tegmentum and substantia nigra. These findings suggest that midbrain dopamine neurons are direct targets of insulin and leptin, and that they participate in mediating the effects of these hormones on reward-seeking behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0006-8993(02)04087-8

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  • Leptin receptors are widely expressed in several extra-hypothalamic regions, including dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

    “Leptin receptors are widely expressed in several extra-hypothalamic regions, including dopaminergic neurons in SN.”
  • VTA and/or NAc neurons express receptors for GLP-1, ghrelin, leptin, insulin, orexin, and melanocortin.

    “neurons in the VTA and/or NAc express GLP-1 (24,25), ghrelin (26,27), leptin (28,29), insulin (30), orexin (31) and melanocortin receptors (32).”

    From Obesity and addiction: Neurobiological overlaps (2013) · cites this paper as [28]

  • VTA and/or NAc neurons express receptors for GLP-1, ghrelin, leptin, insulin, orexin, and melanocortin.

    “Moreover, neurons in VTA and/or nucleus accumbens (NAc) express glucagon-like peptide-1 (11,12), ghrelin (13,14), leptin (15,16), insulin (17), orexin (18), and melanocortin receptors (19).”

    From The Addictive Dimensionality of Obesity (2013) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Functional leptin receptors are expressed in the hippocampus, hindbrain including the NTS, pyriform cortex and other olfactory processing areas, and mesolimbic reward areas including the VTA and SN.

    “functional leptin receptors are expressed in the hippocampus, hindbrain (including the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS)), pyriform cortex and other olfactory processing areas, and in mesolimbic areas involved in reward including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) (61, 72).”

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Authors
Figlewicz, D. P., Evans, S. B., Murphy, J., Hoen, M., & Baskin, D. G.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • VA Puget Sound Health Care System (US)
Corresponding author
Figlewicz, D.P
Venue
Brain Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-02
Volume
964
Issue
1
Pages
107-115
ISSN
0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2094419252
Cited by
482
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 33
FWCI
4.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01-DK40963, DK-17047, R01DK040963, P30DK017047)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
insulin receptor, leptin receptor, ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, midbrain dopaminergic neurons, tyrosine hydroxylase, reward-seeking behavior, metabolic hormones, dopaminergic neurons
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Dopamine, Feeding Behavior, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Insulin, Male, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Receptors, Cell Surface, Receptor, Insulin, Reward, Substantia Nigra, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Ventral Tegmental Area, Leptin, Rats, Receptors, Leptin

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