Identification of GABAergic subpopulations in the lateral hypothalamus for home-driven behaviors in mice

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) 2024-11, Vol.43 (11), p.114842, Article 114842
• Main Authors: Su, Xiaoya, Lei, Bo, He, Junyue, Liu, Yunlong, Wang, Ao, Tang, Yikai, Liu, Weixuan, Zhong, Yi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression - physiology; Animals; Behavior, Animal; CP: Cell biology; CP: Neuroscience; Female; GABAergic Neurons - metabolism; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral - metabolism; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral - physiology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Periaqueductal Gray - metabolism; Periaqueductal Gray - physiology; Ventral Tegmental Area - metabolism; Ventral Tegmental Area - physiology
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114842

Home information profoundly influences behavioral states in both humans and animals. However, how “home” is represented in the brain and its role in driving diverse related behaviors remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that home bedding contains sufficient home information to modulate affective behaviors, including aversion responses, defensive aggression, and mating behaviors. These varied responses to home information are mediated by gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LHGABA). Inhibiting LHGABA abolishes, while activating mimics, the effects of home bedding on these behaviors across different contexts. Specifically, projections from LHGABA to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) mediate the relaxation of aversive emotion, while projections to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) initiate defensive concerns. Thus, our data suggest that home information in different contexts converges to activate distinct subgroups of the LHGABA, which, in turn, elicit appropriate affective behaviors in relieving aversion, fighting intruders, or enhancing mating through involving distinct downstream projections. [Display omitted] •Home bedding triggers home-driven affective behaviors•LHGABA neurons mediate home-driven behaviors•Home bedding-activated neurons in LH mediate home-driven behaviors•LHGABA neurons regulate different home-driven behaviors through different projections GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus respond to home information and modulate diverse home-driven affective behaviors, including aversion, defense, and mating. Distinct projections from these neurons to the VTA and PAG regulate specific affective responses according to different contexts, revealing how the brain processes home-related cues to influence behavioral states.