Anterior zona incerta to ventral tegmental area circuit controls compulsive eating in a binge-eating-disorder mouse model.

Activation of anterior zona incerta GABAergic neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area drives compulsive binge eating in a mouse model, with increased neuronal excitability linked to the behavior.

• Why it matters: Understanding the neural circuits underlying compulsive binge eating is crucial for developing targeted treatments for BED, as the specific pathways involved remain largely unknown.
• What they did: The study used a mouse model of BED, employing neuronal activity measurements, tracing, and single-cell RNA sequencing to identify and characterize a specific GABAergic circuit from the anterior zona incerta to the VTA that influences binge behavior.
• The result: Findings reveal that this circuit enhances dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, promoting compulsive food seeking, and identify Nrsn2 as a genetic marker for binge-related neurons, opening avenues for targeted interventions.