Effects of selective modulation of the central melanocortin-3-receptor on food intake and hypothalamic POMC expression.
Hypothalamic POMC neurons regulate energy balance via interactions with brain melanocortin receptors (MC-Rs). POMC neurons express the MC3-R which can function as an inhibitory autoreceptor in vitro. We now demonstrate that central activation of MC3-R with ICV infusion of the specific MC3-R agonist, [D-Trp(8)]-gamma-MSH, transiently suppresses hypothalamic Pomc expression and stimulates food intake in rats. Conversely, we also show that ICV infusion of a low dose of a selective MC3-R antagonist causes a transient decrease in feeding and weight gain. These data support a functional inhibitory role for the MC3-R on POMC neurons that leads to changes in food intake.
D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3 / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*; D019825:gamma-MSH / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D019825:gamma-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin