Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-03140, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Abizaid, Alfonso (Carleton University), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Discovery Grants Program - Individual, program name french : Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles, program purpose english : Animals including humans eat not only because they are hungry, but also because experience with certain foods is particularly pleasurable. In this case, these foods are over-consumed in spite of containing more calories than those used for energy on a given day. Ghrelin, a hormone produced by the stomach, is also one that seems to promote the over-consumption of these kinds of food through the stimulation of dopamine cells associated with reward mechanisms in the brain. In the current proposal, we propose studies to determine the mechanisms by which ghrelin modulates reward processes to promote food intake, and potentially behaviors associated with other stimuli that are rewarding including sex and the intake of drugs of abuse. Furthermore, the proposed work will promote innovative approaches to modulate the secretion of this hormone, and the interaction between ghrelin receptor activation, and that of other neurotransmitter receptors as a means to understand how it influences the brain to increase reward seeking behaviors. To do this, we will use a combination of behavioral, molecular and genetic techniques and transgenic models that allow for the determination of ghrelin function in specific sets of cells within the brain., program purpose french : Animals including humans eat not only because they are hungry, but also because experience with certain foods is particularly pleasurable. In this case, these foods are over-consumed in spite of containing more calories than those used for energy on a given day. Ghrelin, a hormone produced by the stomach, is also one that seems to promote the over-consumption of these kinds of food through the stimulation of dopamine cells associated with reward mechanisms in the brain. In the current proposal, we propose studies to determine the mechanisms by which ghrelin modulates reward processes to promote food intake, and potentially behaviors associated with other stimuli that are rewarding including sex and the intake of drugs of abuse. Furthermore, the proposed work will promote innovative approaches to modulate the secretion of this hormone, and the interaction between ghrelin receptor activation, and that of other neurotransmitter receptors as a means to understand how it influences the brain to increase reward seeking behaviors. To do this, we will use a combination of behavioral, molecular and genetic techniques and transgenic models that allow for the determination of ghrelin function in specific sets of cells within the brain., agreement title english : Ghrelin modulation of reward mechanisms, agreement title french : Ghrelin modulation of reward mechanisms, agreement number : RGPIN, agreement value : 160000.0, agreement start date : 2017-05-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2022-2023), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada