Giulia Chiacchierini

Scopus Publications

Dietary protein restriction in rats leads to a rapid within-session preference for protein
Giulia Chiacchierini, Fabien Naneix, John Apergis-Schoute, James E McCutcheon
Physiology and Behavior, 2025
A behavioral screening method for predicting PTSD-like phenotypes: Novel application to female rats
Giulia Chiacchierini, Giulia Federica Mancini, Benedetta Di Cesare, Luca Romanelli, Maria Morena, et al.
Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 2025
Treating Alzheimer's disease with brain stimulation: From preclinical models to non-invasive stimulation in humans
Ilenia Lanni, Giulia Chiacchierini, Costanza Papagno, Valerio Santangelo, Patrizia Campolongo
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2024
Involvement of A13 dopaminergic neurons in prehensile movements but not reward in the rat
Celia Garau, Jessica Hayes, Giulia Chiacchierini, James E. McCutcheon, John Apergis-Schoute
Current Biology, 2023
Reciprocal cortico-amygdala connections regulate prosocial and selfish choices in mice
Diego Scheggia, Filippo La Greca, Federica Maltese, Giulia Chiacchierini, Maria Italia, et al.
Nature Neuroscience, 2022
Restriction of dietary protein in rats increases progressive-ratio motivation for protein
Giulia Chiacchierini, Fabien Naneix, John Apergis-Schoute, James E. McCutcheon
Physiology and Behavior, 2022
Predictive and motivational factors influencing anticipatory contrast: A comparison of contextual and gustatory predictors in food restricted and free-fed rats
Jessica Hayes, Celia Garau, Giulia Chiacchierini, Gonzalo P. Urcelay, James E. McCutcheon, et al.
Physiology and Behavior, 2021
Immunology and microbiology: how do they affect social cognition and emotion recognition?
Weronika Barcik, Giulia Chiacchierini, Zisis Bimpisidis, Francesco Papaleo
Current Opinion in Immunology, 2021
Protein appetite drives macronutrient-related differences in ventral tegmental area neural activity
Giulia Chiacchierini, Fabien Naneix, Kate Zara Peters, John Apergis-Schoute, Eelke Mirthe Simone Snoeren, et al.
Journal of Neuroscience, 2021
Control of protein intake is essential for numerous biological processes as several amino acids cannot be synthesized de novo, however, its neurobiological substrates are still poorly understood. In the present study, we combined in vivo fiber photometry with nutrient-conditioned flavor in a rat model of protein appetite to record neuronal activity in the VTA, a central brain region for the control of food-related processes. In adult male rats, protein restriction increased preference for casein (protein) over maltodextrin (carbohydrate). Moreover, protein consumption was associated with a greater VTA response, relative to carbohydrate. After initial nutrient preference, a switch from a normal balanced diet to protein restriction induced rapid development of protein preference but required extensive exposure to macronutrient solutions to induce elevated VTA responses to casein. Furthermore, prior protein restriction induced long-lasting food preference and VTA responses. This study reveals that VTA circuits are involved in protein appetite in times of need, a crucial process for animals to acquire an adequate amount of protein in their diet. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Acquiring insufficient protein in one's diet has severe consequences for health and ultimately will lead to death. In addition, a low level of dietary protein has been proposed as a driver of obesity as it can leverage up intake of fat and carbohydrate. However, much remains unknown about the role of the brain in ensuring adequate intake of protein. Here, we show that in a state of protein restriction a key node in brain reward circuitry, the VTA, is activated more strongly during consumption of protein than carbohydrate. Moreover, although rats' behavior changed to reflect new protein status, patterns of neural activity were more persistent and only loosely linked to protein status.
Concomitant D1 and D2 dopamine receptor agonist infusion in prelimbic cortex is required to foster extinction of amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference
Emanuele Claudio Latagliata, Giulia Coccia, Giulia Chiacchierini, Chiara Milia, Stefano Puglisi-Allegra
Behavioural Brain Research, 2020
Neuregulin 1/ErbB signalling modulates hippocampal mGluRI-dependent LTD and object recognition memory
Ada Ledonne, Dalila Mango, Emanuele Claudio Latagliata, Giulia Chiacchierini, Annalisa Nobili, et al.
Pharmacological Research, 2018
Single prazosin infusion in prelimbic cortex Fosters extinction of amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference
Emanuele C. Latagliata, Luisa Lo Iacono, Giulia Chiacchierini, Marco Sancandi, Alessandro Rava, et al.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2017

Giulia Chiacchierini

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Scopus Publications