Food craving-like episodes during pregnancy are mediated by accumbal dopaminergic circuits

Food cravings for high-palatable foods are highly prevalent during pregnancy and contribute to the maintenance and development of gestational overweight and obesity. However, the neurobiology and molecular mechanisms underlying this distinct ingestive behavior remain unknown. We have shown that mice, similar to humans, also experience gestational food craving-like episodes. These are associated with a functional brain connectivity reorganization affecting key components of the dopaminergic mesolimbic circuitry. Pregnancy engages a dynamic modulation of dopaminergic signaling through dopamine receptor type 2 (D2R) neurons of the nucleus accumbens, which directly modulate food craving-like events. Importantly, persistent maternal food craving-like behavior has intergenerational effects thus deteriorating offspring neuropsychological and metabolic health. Our results reveal the cognitively motivated nature of pregnancy food cravings and advocates for moderating emotional eating during gestation.

孕期对高适口性食物的渴求极为普遍，且会推动妊娠超重与肥胖的维持与发展。然而，这一独特摄食行为背后的神经生物学与分子机制仍未明确。我们的研究证实，与人类相似，小鼠也会出现类似孕期食物渴求的行为表现。这类行为与脑功能连接重组相关，该重组会影响多巴胺能中脑边缘环路（dopaminergic mesolimbic circuitry）的关键组成部分。妊娠过程会通过伏隔核（nucleus accumbens）的多巴胺2型受体（dopamine receptor type 2，D2R）神经元对多巴胺信号传导进行动态调控，而这一过程可直接调节类似食物渴求的行为事件。值得注意的是，母体持续存在的类似食物渴求的行为会产生代际效应，进而损害子代的神经心理与代谢健康。我们的研究揭示了孕期食物渴求的认知动机本质，并主张在妊娠期应适度控制情绪化进食。