title: Investigation of the melanocyte stimulating hormones on food intake. Lack Of evidence to support a role for the melanocortin-3-receptor.
abstract: The melanocortin receptors, melanocortin-3-receptor (MC3-R) and melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4-R), are expressed in many discrete medial hypothalamic nuclei implicated in feeding regulation. The pro-opiomelanocortin product alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), an MC3/4-R agonist, decreases food intake following intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection in rats. MC4-R's involvement in feeding has been established although a function for the MC3-R is unclear. We investigated endogenous melanocortin ligand binding and activation at the MC3-R and MC4-R and their effects on feeding. We have shown that alpha-MSH, desacetyl-alpha-MSH and beta-MSH bound to the MC3-R and MC4-R with similar affinity and stimulated cAMP with similar potency in HEK 293 cells transfected with MC3-R and MC4-R. In contrast gamma(2)-MSH showed selectivity for the MC3-R over the MC4-R both in binding affinity and cAMP stimulation. alpha-MSH and beta-MSH injected ICV into fasted rats at doses of 1, 3 and 6 nmol resulted in a decrease in food intake, (2 h food intake: alpha-MSH 6 nmol, 1.7+/-0.3 g; beta-MSH 6 nmol, 1.5+/-0.3 g vs. saline 6.0+/-0.5 g, P<0.001). Desacetyl alpha-MSH did not reduce food intake at low doses but was significant at 25 nmol (2 h food intake: desacetyl-alpha-MSH 6.1+/-1.0 g vs. saline 9.5+/-1.4 g, P<0.05). In contrast, gamma(2)-MSH had no effect on food intake when administered ICV to fasted rats. We were unable to establish a role for the MC3-R in feeding regulation. Our evidence, however, strengthens the hypothesis that the melanocortin's effects on food intake are mediated via the MC4-R.
authors.affiliation: ICSM Endocrine Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0NN, London, UK.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: AlAhmed
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghatei
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019824:beta-MSH / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019825:gamma-MSH / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D019824:beta-MSH; D019825:gamma-MSH; D000521:alpha-MSH; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D000242:Cyclic AMP