title: Melanocortin activity in the amygdala influences alcohol intake.
abstract: Melanocortins have been reported to affect alcohol intake through actions in the hypothalamus thought to be mediated by melanocortin MC4 receptors. Since these receptors are expressed in a number of amygdala regions, we have explored their role in the regulation of alcohol intake in both alcohol-preferring (P) and non-preferring (NP) rats. Injections were made at the border of the central amygdala nucleus and the basolateral amygdala. The MC3/MC4R agonist MTII reduced alcohol and food intake but increased water intake while the selective MC4R antagonist HS014 only increased food and water intake. The MC3/MC4R antagonist SHU9119 increased food and water but had little effect on alcohol intake. However, when the SHU9119 stimulation of food intake was prevented by pair-feeding, SHU9119 induced a large and prolonged decline in alcohol intake that was paralleled by an increase in water intake. These effects were only observed in P rats. We conclude that melanocortin activity in the amygdala can alter the selective preference for water and alcohol independent of effects on food intake.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Nutrition, Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4715, USA. david.york@usu.edu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: York
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boghossian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park-York
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053486:Melanocortins / Q000502:physiology*; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D023421:Models, Animal; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: C116941:HS014 cyclic peptide; D053486:Melanocortins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D044104:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin; C514973:melanocortin 3 receptor, rat; C103272:SHU 9119; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones