Figure 9. A model for vHP ghrelin-mediated conditioned feeding behavior.
(A) Animals learn to anticipate a meal based on external or internal food cues. (B,C) Ghrelin secreted from the stomach in anticipation of feeding crosses the blood brain barrier and enters the central nervous system. (D) Ghrelin acts on GHSR in vHP neurons, which engages (E) Downstream activation of dpLHA orexin neurons and CNS Ox1R signaling. (F) Activation of this neural pathway increases conditioned appetite and feeding behavior.