title: The role of melanocortins and Neuropeptide Y in food reward.
abstract: The Neuropeptide Y and the melanocortin peptides are two well-described hypothalamic feeding peptides regulating energy balance. Predominantly expressed within the arcuate nucleus, these neurons project to different brain areas and modulate various aspects of feeding. Hedonic feeding, where one overindulges in palatable food consumption beyond one's nutritional necessities, is one such aspect regulated by NPY/melanocortin signaling. Research suggests that NPY/melanocortin regulate hedonic aspects of feeding through its projections to the brain reward circuitry (ventral tegmental area, lateral hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens etc.), however, exact target areas have not yet been identified. The current work explores literature to provide a mechanistic explanation for the effects of these peptides on food reward.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: rpandit15@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: la Fleur
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R A H
authors.initials: RAH
authors.lastname: Adan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D053486:Melanocortins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D053486:Melanocortins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y
keywords: Food-reward; Melanocortin; Motivation; Neuropeptide Y