NIH R01 · 2025
Dorsal raphe nucleus melanocortin signaling regulates energy homeostasis
Our recent studies have demonstrated that that activation of GABAergic MC4R neurons in the DRN increases feeding (Nectow et al., 2017; Bruschetta et al., 2020), thus suggesting that contrary to MC4R neurons located in the PVN, DRN GABAergic MC4R neurons are inhibited by its ligand, a-MSH. In support of this, we have observed that injection of a-MSH in the DRN reduces food intake (Bruschetta et al., 2020) and reduces DRN neuronal activation (Bruschetta et al., 2020) in overnight fasted mice. In agreement with these data, DREADD inhibition of DRN MC4R neurons reduces feeding in overnight fasted mice (Bruschetta et al., 2020) while DREADD activation of DRN MC4R neurons increases feeding in…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.