Richard Trinko

TL;DR: It is shown that VTA dopamine neurons express Lepr mRNA and respond to leptin with activation of an intracellular JAK-STAT pathway and a reduction in firing rate and this data support a critical role for VTA Lepr in regulating feeding behavior and provide functional evidence for direct action of a peripheral metabolic signal on Vta dopamine neurons.

TL;DR: The hypothesis that striatal neuronal activity regulates systemic glucose metabolism is supported, as a series of experiments supporting the regulation of peripheral glucose metabolism by striatal dopamine signaling are presented.

TL;DR: This work discusses some of shared elements that may underlie both drug addiction and obesity with an emphasis on emerging areas of research that better define common mechanisms leading to overconsumption.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that pERK1/2 may have a critical role in mediating both the electrophysiogical and behavioral effects of leptin receptor signaling in the VTA.

TL;DR: It is shown that medial NAc shell projections to the VTA bidirectionally control food intake, consistent with a permissive role in feeding, and that activity of the NAc to VTA pathway is necessary for adaptive inhibition of food intake in response to external cues.