Fig. 5

Graphical Abstract—Dietary cholesterol modulates locomotion and exploratory behavior through AgRP neuropeptide and intestinal fibroblast growth factor 15/19. In nature, dietary cholesterol comes from animal-based food. Thus, the presence of high dietary cholesterol may signal a state of energy surplus to the brain, in part via stimulation of intestinal FGF15/19 and suppression of hypothalamic AgRP expression, as well as alteration of other components of AgRP neurons. These effects lead to increased anxiogenic levels and decreased locomotor activities, thereby reducing food-seeking behaviors. On the contrary, when dietary cholesterol is depleted from the diet, it signals a state of food shortage, in part via suppression of intestinal FGF15/19 and stimulation of hypothalamic AgRP expression, as well as alteration of other components of AgRP neurons. These effects result in reduced anxiogenic levels and increased locomotor activities, thereby enhancing food-seeking behaviors. Green arrows signify upregulation and red arrows signify downregulation