Role of GHSR on rewarding aspects of food intake

What neural circuits are modulated by GHSR and what is its role in controlling food intake in the absence of energy needs?

Numerous evidences indicate that GHSR is expressed in neuronal populations that belong to circuits that control rewarding aspects of food intake, such as the mesolimbic pathway. For instance, we have shown found that the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a key brain area where ligand-dependent and ligand-independent actions of GHSR are integrated. Currently, we are performing specific studies to unmask the putative role of specific GHSR-expressing neurons of the VTA, the nucleus accumbens, the lateral hypothalamus or the supramamillary nucleus on the consumption of palatable foods, independently of the energetic needs, as well as on other appetitive behaviors.