A midbrain-­to-­ventral-­striatum dopaminergic pathway orchestrates odor-­guided insect predation in mice by Wenqiang Wang, Yanbiao Zhong, Ruiyi Tan, Maoyuan Wang, Jia Liu, Ding Wang, Haiping Wang, Yue Li, Guanqing Li, Jian Yang, Peng Wang, Jialiang Wu, Jianxu Zhang, Chen- Zhu Wang, Haishui Shi, Minghong Ma, Yiqun Yu, Yun- Feng Zhang instant download

A midbrain-­to-­ventral-­striatum dopaminergic pathway orchestrates odor-­guided insect predation in mice by Wenqiang Wang, Yanbiao Zhong, Ruiyi Tan, Maoyuan Wang, Jia Liu, Ding Wang, Haiping Wang, Yue Li, Guanqing Li, Jian Yang, Peng Wang, Jialiang Wu, Jianxu Zhang, Chen- Zhu Wang, Haishui Shi, Minghong Ma, Yiqun Yu, Yun- Feng Zhang instant download

RESEARCH ARTICLE | NEUROSCIENCE. A midbrain-to-ventral-striatum dopaminergic pathway orchestrates odor-guided insect predation in mice.
Wenqiang Wanga,b,c,1, Yanbiao Zhongd,e,1 , Ruiyi Tanf,1, Maoyuan Wangd,e,1, Jia Liug,1 , Ding Wanga,b,h, Haiping Wanga,b,h, Yue Lia,b,h, Guanqing Lia,b,c, Jian Yangi, Peng Wangj, Jialiang Wua,b,h, Jianxu Zhanga,b,h , Chen-Zhu Wanga,b,h, Haishui Shik , Minghong Mal,2 , Yiqun Yum,n,2, and Yun-Feng Zhanga,b,h,2 Affiliations are included on p. 11. Edited by Daniel W. Wesson, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; received June 10, 2025; accepted September 12, 2025 by Editorial Board Member Jeremy Nathans
Foraging and food consumption are fundamental for the survival of animals. In natural environments, wild rodents feed on insects, including moth larvae, and odor- guided evaluation of potential food resources is a critical step in initiating feeding behavior. However, the mechanisms by which rodents seek and feed on insect prey remain poorly understood. Herein, we employed a laboratory- based predator–prey interaction system using mice and cotton bollworm larvae to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying food- seeking and feeding behaviors at both cellular and neural circuit levels. We demonstrate that mice exhibit a strong preference for consuming fed larvae, and this preference is dependent on the main olfactory system. Gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis revealed significant differences in the chemical profiles of fed and unfed larvae, with fed larvae containing a higher level of linoleic acid (LA) and a lower level of (Z)- 9- tricosene [(Z)- 9- TE]. Behavioral assays showed that mice, as well as Brand’s voles and brown rats, are attracted to LA but avoid (Z)- 9- TE in a two- choice odor preference test. Furthermore, we identified that the dopaminergic pathway from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the medial o