"Breakthrough: Unveiling the Brain Circuit Behind Salt Aversion"
Scientists at Caltech have discovered a neural circuit in the mouse brain that regulates aversion to salty tastes. While previous research identified the brain circuit responsible for salt cravings, this new study reveals a separate circuit that enables mice to tolerate high levels of salt that would typically be aversive. These tolerance neurons, located in the forebrain, function independently from the salt-appetite neurons in the hindbrain. The activity of the tolerance neurons is modulated by the hormone prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), suggesting a link between inflammation and sodium intake. Understanding these circuits could provide insights into how the body maintains sodium balance and the interplay between sodium levels and inflammation.