Figure 2. Optogenetic activation of LH^LEPR neurons does not evoke food intake but is rewarding.

(A) Schematics of viral injections, free-access feeding, and real-time place preference.

(B and C) Representative images of ChR2, NpHR, and GFP in the LH and optical fiber placements above the LH in Slc32a1^Cre mice and Lepr^Cre mice. Scale bar, 500 μm.

(D) LH^VGAT neuron photoactivation triggers feeding. Two-way mixed-model ANOVA group × epoch interaction (p = 0.002), Bonferroni post-test (**p = 0.003).

(E) LH^VGAT neuron photoinhibition suppresses feeding. Two-way mixed-model ANOVA group × epoch interaction (p = 0.0027), Bonferroni post-test (**p = 0.005).

(F) LH^LEPR neuron photoactivation did not affect feeding. Two-way mixed-model ANOVA group × epoch interaction (p = 0.21).

(G) LH^LEPR neuron photoinhibition did not affect feeding. Two-way mixed-model ANOVA group × epoch interaction (p = 0.32).

(H) LH^VGAT:ChR2 mice displayed significant real-time place preference (p < 0.0001).

(I) LH^VGAT:NpHR mice displayed significant real-time place aversion (p = 0.045).

(J) LH^LEPR:ChR2 mice displayed significant real-time place preference over control mice (p = 0.0003).

(K) LH^LEPR:NpHR mice displayed significant real-time place aversion (p = 0.0049).

Data represented as means ± SEMs; n = 5–10 mice/group.

See also Table S1 for full statistics and Figure S2.