title: Peripheral influences on central melanocortin neurons.
abstract: The melanocortins are peptide products of post-translational processing of the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor protein. Melanocortin-expressing neurons are found in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the nucleus of the solitary tract in the brain stem. The central melanocortin system is involved in a number of biological functions, including regulation of energy homeostasis. Hypothalamic and brain stem circuits interpret and integrate a number of peripheral inputs to provide a coordinated central response. This review examines the effect of these peripheral signals on central melanocortin signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH