A distinct vagus-beta cell neural circuit senses glucose and modulates insulin secretion

However, the vagal circuits that sense and respond to continuous fluctuations in peripheral glucose levels to modify hormone release and fine-tune feeding behavior are unclear. Here, we show that VSN regulate glucose homeostasis via sensing glucose and communicating with insulin producing β-cells.

Neuronal tracing combined with in-situ hybridization and immunofluorescence revealed that VSN expressing cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (VSN-CART) are anatomically connected with β-cells. Chemogenetic stimulation of VSN-CART increased levels of acetylcholine and insulin along with reductions in glucose levels. In contrast, silencing of VSN-CART suppressed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and led to glucose intolerance.