Parallel neural pathways control sodium consumption and taste valence

We performed single-cell RNA-seq (10x Chromium 3' v.3.1) on dissociated single cell suspensions from mouse (C57BL/6) osmosensory brain nuclei - subfornical organ (SFO) to determine transcriptomic cell types and neuronal activation patterns. By performing single cell RNA-seq based stimulus to cell-type mapping, we captured the endogenous immediate early gene expression triggered by distinct physiological state stimuli in SFO cells. We identified a unique excitatory neuron type in SFO that is uniquely tuned to sodium deficiency. For stimulus to cell-type mapping experiments we used 15-20 animals per condition. Both male and female animals were used in equal measure. All animals were 7-8 weeks of age. Prior to tissue extraction, animals were subjected to one of the following experimental treatments: a) wated satiation: ad libitum access to food and water); b) sodium depletion: intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of furosemide at a dose of 50 mg/kg bodyweight followed by one day maintainance on a low-sodium diet.