Overview

• Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research uncovered a circuit of glutamatergic neurons in the medial septum that fire within seconds of detecting food odors to induce fullness.
• These septal neurons are directly connected to the olfactory bulb, respond selectively to food-related scents, and become inhibited once mice begin eating.
• In obese mice, the olfactory-driven satiety pathway fails to activate, leading to no reduction in hunger or meal size despite food odor exposure.
• The human brain harbors similar septal neurons, although their responsiveness to food odors and impact on human appetite remain untested.
• Published in Nature Metabolism on June 11, the study points to olfactory circuits as promising targets for therapies that restore anticipatory satiety in obesity.