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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Sep 22.
Published in final edited form as: Cell. 2016 Sep 8;167(1):47–59.e15. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.08.028

Figure 4. Optogenetic activation of VMPOPACAP/BDNF neurons induces thermoregulatory behavior.

Figure 4

See also Figure S4.

(A–C) VMPOPACAP/BDNF neuron stimulation alters temperature preference in the thermal gradient.

(A) Schematic of thermal gradient assay. Heat map shows cumulative positions of a representative subject on a thermal gradient in the 30 minute span before and after light stimulation.

(B) Average gradient position (0=18°C, 1=50°C) during stimulation trials.

(C) Median gradient position in the 30 minute interval before and after stimulation. n=7–10 per group. Two-way RM-ANOVA, Interaction, F1,15(PACAP)=37.78, P<0.001; F1,13(BDNF)=13.90, P=0.002. post-hoc Bonferroni multiple comparisons *** P<0.001.

(D–E) POAPACAP/BDNF neuron stimulation suppresses nesting activity.

(D) Schematic of nesting activity assay. PACAP-SSFO, BDNF-SSFO or control subjects were given fresh nesting material in a cool environment (10°C). Light stimulation was applied for 4 hours (10 seconds of 2 Hz stimulation every 30 minutes) and condition of nesting material was recorded after. Representative fresh and used nesting material are shown.

(E) Photographs (right) of nesting material and a composite of traced outlines are shown after a 4-hour nesting activity assay.