RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Catabolic Action of Insulin in the Brain Is Mediated by Melanocortins
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 9048
OP 9052
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-20-09048.2002
VO 22
IS 20
A1 Stephen C. Benoit
A1 Ellen L. Air
A1 Lique M. Coolen
A1 Richelle Strauss
A1 Alana Jackman
A1 Deborah J. Clegg
A1 Randy J. Seeley
A1 Stephen C. Woods
YR 2002
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/22/20/9048.abstract
AB Like leptin, the pancreatic hormone insulin is an important adiposity signal to the brain. We report that the hypothalamic melanocortin system is an important target of the actions of insulin to regulate food intake and body weight. Hypothalamic neurons expressing insulin receptors were found to coexpress the melanocortin precursor molecule pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and administration of insulin into the third cerebral ventricle of fasted rats increased expression of POMC mRNA. Finally, a subthreshold dose of the melanocortin antagonist SHU-9119 prevented the reduction in food intake caused by third-ventricular insulin administration. These data suggest that the hypothalamic melanocortin system mediates the anorexic effects of central insulin, as well as of leptin.