NTS Prlh overcomes orexigenic stimuli and ameliorates dietary and genetic forms of obesity

Calcitonin receptor (Calcr)-expressing neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS; Calcr(NTS) cells) contribute to the long-term control of food intake and body weight. Here, we show that Prlh-expressing NTS (Prlh(NTS)) neurons represent a subset of Calcr(NTS) cells and that Prlh expression in these cells restrains body weight gain in the face of high fat diet challenge in mice. To understand the relationship of Prlh(NTS) cells to hypothalamic feeding circuits, we determined the ability of Prlh(NTS)-mediated signals to overcome enforced activation of AgRP neurons. We found that Prlh(NTS) neuron activation and Prlh overexpression in Prlh(NTS) cells abrogates AgRP neuron-driven hyperphagia and ameliorates the obesity of mice deficient in melanocortin signaling or leptin. Thus, enhancing Prlh-mediated neurotransmission from the NTS dampens hypothalamically-driven hyperphagia and obesity, demonstrating that NTS-mediated signals can override the effects of orexigenic hypothalamic signals on long-term energy balance.