Brain melanocortin receptors: from cloning to function.
The cloning of brain melanocortin (MC) receptors, the mapping of their expression pattern and the identification of MC receptor selective ligands have opened a new avenue towards elucidating the role of the melanocortin system in the brain. MC receptors have now been implicated in melanocortin-induced grooming behavior in rats, in the melanocortin-induced lowering of blood pressure and in the control of weight homeostasis. Functional opioid antagonism and the anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of melanocortins are probably also mediated via MC receptors. However, the effects of melanocortins on avoidance behavior and the effect of gamma 2-MSH on increasing blood pressure are not mediated via one of the cloned brain MC receptors. The structure of brain MC receptors, their expression pattern, the MC receptor selective ligands and the function of MC receptors are briefly reviewed.
Adan
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Department of Medical Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. adan@med.ruu.nl
Gispen
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin
D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin