title: Melanocortin-4 receptors, beta-MSH and leptin: key elements in the satiety pathway.
abstract: This paper reviews aspects of our research, focusing on the role of the melanocortin system in the central regulation of feeding and energy balance, which was begun in 1997. It describes data from successive physiological studies, concerning the identity of the appetite-regulating melanocortin receptor, melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) regulation with altered nutritional status, the role of MC4R in dietary obesity and the identity of the endogenous MC4R ligand.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine and Obesity Biology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK. harrold@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Joanne A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Harrold
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity; D051381:Rats; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D019824:beta-MSH / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D019824:beta-MSH