Deciphering the brainstem circadian clock: intrinsic circadian control over ingestive functions by the dorsal vagal complex in health and obesity

Feeding constitutes one of the most critical behaviours for survival and both the amount of food consumed and its timing are crucial for the maintenance of homeostasis. Here with the use of a unique combination of research techniques, we propose to investigate neuronal mechanisms of the daily control of satiety and their disturbances in obesity. Additionally, we aim to restore proper circadian rhythmicity in obese rodents by timed stimulations of vagus nerve, which could illuminate and inform clinical and chronotherapeutic treatment of obesity.