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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Apr 3.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2018 Jul 19;52:165–171. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.07.003

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Highly simplified flat map showing brain regions involved in the perinatal regulation feeding. The regulation of feeding during early postnatal life involves a complex, distributed, and interconnected neuronal network involving neurons in the forebrain and hindbrain. Neurons in the olfactory bulb (OB), locus coeruleus (LC), thalamus (Thal), somatosensory (SmCx) and anterior insulate (InsCx) cortex as well as in the trigeminal (V), facial (VII), and hypoglossal (XII) nuclei play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of suckling. Circuits emanating from these neuronal structures begin to develop before birth and continue to be remodeled after birth upon olfactory, mechanical, and nociceptive stimulations. Neurons located in the arcuate (ARH), ventromedial (VMH), dorsomedial (DMH), paraventricular (PVH) nuclei of the hypothalamus, in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) are involved in the homeostatic regulation of feeding. These neuronal systems are largely immature at birth and develop during the first three weeks of postnatal life in rodents under the influence of hormonal and nutritional signals.