Hypothalamic melanocortin system regulates sympathetic nerve activity in brown adipose tissue

T Yasuda, T Masaki, T Kakuma… - … biology and medicine, 2004 - journals.sagepub.com
T Yasuda, T Masaki, T Kakuma, H Yoshimatsu
Experimental biology and medicine, 2004journals.sagepub.com
To clarify the neuronal mechanism of the hypothalamic melanocortin system in regulating
energy metabolism, we investigated the effects of centrally administered α-melanocyte-
stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and agouti-related protein (AGRP), an agonist and an
antagonist for the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R), respectively, on the activity of
sympathetic nerves innervating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and on BAT temperature. A
bolus infusion of α-MSH (1 nmol) into the third cerebral ventricle (i3vt) significantly increased …
To clarify the neuronal mechanism of the hypothalamic melanocortin system in regulating energy metabolism, we investigated the effects of centrally administered α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and agouti-related protein (AGRP), an agonist and an antagonist for the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R), respectively, on the activity of sympathetic nerves innervating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and on BAT temperature. A bolus infusion of α-MSH (1 nmol) into the third cerebral ventricle (i3vt) significantly increased sympathetic nerve activity and elevated BAT temperature (P < 0.05). The i3vt infusion of AGRP (1 nmol) gradually suppressed BAT sympathetic nerve activity and was accompanied by a significant reduction in BAT temperature (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the hypothalamic melanocortin system may regulate peripheral energy expenditure, as well as thermogenesis, through its influence on BAT sympathetic nerve activity.
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