Giulia Chiacchierini
@web.uniroma1.it
Research Fellow - Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer"
"La Sapienza" University of Rome
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Physiology, Pharmacology, Memory, Stress, Social behavior, Reward
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Celia Garau, Jessica Hayes, Giulia Chiacchierini, James E. McCutcheon, and John Apergis-Schoute
Elsevier BV
Diego Scheggia, Filippo La Greca, Federica Maltese, Giulia Chiacchierini, Maria Italia, Cinzia Molent, Fabrizio Bernardi, Giulia Coccia, Nicolò Carrano, Elisa Zianni,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Giulia Chiacchierini, Fabien Naneix, John Apergis-Schoute, and James E. McCutcheon
Elsevier BV
Jessica Hayes, Celia Garau, Giulia Chiacchierini, Gonzalo P. Urcelay, James E. McCutcheon, and John Apergis-Schoute
Elsevier BV
Weronika Barcik, Giulia Chiacchierini, Zisis Bimpisidis, and Francesco Papaleo
Elsevier BV
Giulia Chiacchierini, Fabien Naneix, Kate Zara Peters, John Apergis-Schoute, Eelke Mirthe Simone Snoeren, and James Edgar McCutcheon
Society for Neuroscience
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.
Emanuele Claudio Latagliata, Giulia Coccia, Giulia Chiacchierini, Chiara Milia, and Stefano Puglisi-Allegra
Elsevier BV
Ada Ledonne, Dalila Mango, Emanuele Claudio Latagliata, Giulia Chiacchierini, Annalisa Nobili, Robert Nisticò, Marcello D’Amelio, Stefano Puglisi-Allegra, and Nicola Biagio Mercuri
Elsevier BV
Emanuele C. Latagliata, Luisa Lo Iacono, Giulia Chiacchierini, Marco Sancandi, Alessandro Rava, Valeria Oliva, and Stefano Puglisi-Allegra
Frontiers Media SA