title: Effects of selective modulation of the central melanocortin-3-receptor on food intake and hypothalamic POMC expression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Irene M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Conwell
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hruby
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayorov
authors.forename: Minying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wardlaw
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D019825:gamma-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin