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Review
. 2014 May;29(3):196-202.
doi: 10.1152/physiol.00061.2013.

The brain melanocortin system, sympathetic control, and obesity hypertension

Alexandre A da Silva  1 , Jussara M do Carmo, Zhen Wang, John E Hall
Affiliations
Review

The brain melanocortin system, sympathetic control, and obesity hypertension

Alexandre A da Silva et al. Physiology (Bethesda). 2014 May.

Abstract

Excess weight gain is the most significant, preventable cause of increased blood pressure (BP) in patients with primary (essential) hypertension and increases the risk for cardiovascular and renal diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of the brain melanocortin system in causing increased sympathetic activity in obesity and other forms of hypertension. In addition, we highlight potential mechanisms by which the brain melanocortin system modulates metabolic and cardiovascular functions.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the author(s).

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Schematic representation of POMC cleavage and proposed affinities of its byproducts to melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R) ACTH, adrenocorticotropin hormone; β-endo, β-endorphin; MSH, melanocyte-stimulating hormone; POMC, pro-opiomelanocortin.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Schematic representation of the modulation of POMC neurons and MC4R containing neurons by peripheral signals involved in the regulation of energy balance, glucose levels, and cardiovascular function The figure also highlights the opposing actions of POMC neurons vs. AGRP/NPY neurons on MC4R activation, and an auto-potentiation/auto-stimulation loop on POMC neurons mediated by the MC4R. AGRP, agouti-related peptide; MC4R, melanocortin 4 receptors; NPY, neuropeptide Y.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
Compilation of data demonstrating the impact of MC4R activation with the MC3/4 agonist MTII or the MC3/4 antagonist SHU-9119 on food intake A: compilation of data demonstrating the impact of MC4R activation with the MC3/4 agonist MTII or the MC3/4 antagonist SHU-9119 on food intake in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The average changes (Δ) in mean arterial pressure (B) and heart rate (C) in normotensive and hypertensive rats (SHR) during days 7 to 12 of treatment with MTII or SHU-9119. Image modified from Refs. , , and used with permission.
FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 4.
Schematic representation of the impact of obesity factors Schematic representation of the impact of obesity factors (e.g., leptin, insulin, and other stimuli) on pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuron activity and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) activation in forebrain and brain stem nuclei as well as in the spinal cord IML leading to elevated sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and BP response to stress. α-MSH, α-melanoctyte stimulating hormone; ARC, arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus; DMV, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; IML, intermediolateral medulla; NTS, nucleus of the tractus solitarius; PVN, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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