Melanocortins and reproduction.
Obesity, anorexia and general body weight fluctuations cause a variety of effects on the reproductive system. Our understanding of the neuro-biological mechanisms of the connections between body weight and the reproductive axis is not especially developed despite a number of interesting physiological observations. Several reports suggest that leptin could play a key role in connecting energy balance and reproduction. The melanocortin system, involving melanocyte stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, agouti related peptide and the central melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors, plays a major role in the hypothalamic regulation of energy balance. The melanocortins have also been suggested to participate in possible downstream events of the adipose cell derived hormone, leptin. Leptin has importance for several aspects of reproduction including regulation of luteinizing hormone and prolactin release. This review discusses the interplay of hypothalamic regulation of food intake and the hormones involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with special emphasis on putative roles of the melanocortin system.
Schiöth
Helgi B
HB
Department of Neuroscience, Division of Pharmacology, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 593, 75 124, Uppsala, Sweden. helgis@bmc.uu.se
Watanobe
Hajime
H
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin / Q000502:physiology; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D018043:Receptors, Corticotropin; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones