Elevated activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system promotes feeding during pregnancy in mice

The pregnancy period is accompanied by increased feeding behavior to accommodate the elevated energy demands associated with fetal growth and development. However, the underlying neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms mediating increased feeding during pregnancy are largely unknown. Here, we utilized a combination of fiber photometry, chemogenetics, and mouse behavioral assays to characterize altered feeding behavior during pregnancy in mice. We uncover that pregnancy increases the average activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system during feeding behavior in mice. VTA dopamine neurons promote increased high fat diet feeding during pregnancy as inhibition of these cells selectively reduces acute high fat diet intake in pregnant mice. Further, pregnant mice exhibit increased sensitivity to food deprivation, an effect which requires activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system. Together, these findings provide a circuit basis mediating altered palatable food intake and sensitivity to negative energy balance during pregnancy in mice. • Average VTA dopamine response to palatable food is increased during pregnancy • Average VTA dopamine neuron activity is increased in response to negative energy balance during pregnancy • Nucleus accumbens dopamine levels are increased during feeding in pregnant mice • VTA dopamine neuron activity regulates palatable food intake and fast-induced refeeding in pregnant mice