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Topics of interests
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Homeostatic reguation of nutritional preference
We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms that regulate eating behavior at sub-conscious level. Specifically, we are interested in "what we eat (eating-related decision making)", rather than "how much we eat (regulating of caloric intake)."
We focus on the homeostatic regulation of nutritional preference. In other words, we are interested in eating-related decision making based on the nutritional needs.
We recently elucidated a part of the mechanisms that regulates simple sugar preference（Matsui, Sasaki* et al., Nature Communications, 2018; Mori, ..., Sasaki*. Am J Physiol Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2025）.
We are currently working on identifying the mechnism that regulate preferences for fat and protein. We have shown the presence of MCT-specific appetite, which is regulated by the interorgan crosstalks （Maruyama, ..., Sasaki*. Am J Physiol Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2024）. We are wroking on elucidating the mechanism.
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Neurocircuits that regulates alcohol drinking
We recently elucidated a part of the mechanisms that regulates alcohol ingestion（Matsui, ..., Sasaki*. PNAS, 2026）. We have identified substances in food that can reduce alcohol drinking in mice. We are currently working on elucidating the mechanism further and developing seeds for pharmaceuticals that reduces alcohol drinking both in health and alcohol dependent disorder.
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Neurocircuits that regulates food preference
We established a pharmacological model, in which food preference is reversibly altered in a nutrition-independent manner（Sasaki* et al., American Journal of Physiology, 2015）. We are utilizing this unusual model for exploring the neurocircuits that regulate food preference at the whole brain scale.
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| Techniques you can lab in the lab
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Neuroscience: stereotaxic surgery, virus vector production, histology
Endocrinology and Metabolism: concepts in hormone and multi-organ system
Molecular Biology; DNA, RNA, protein, cell cultue, signaling experiments
Genetics: how to use genetically modified mice
etc.
Tsutomu Sasaki, MD/PhD, Professor of Nutrition Chemistry
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| On-going clinical trials
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For details, please click the following link(s).
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