Abstract
Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) has attracted considerable attention because of its effects on food intake and body weight and the MCH receptor (MCHR1) remains one of the viable targets for obesity therapy. This review summarizes the literature examining the effects of MCH on body weight, food intake and energy expenditure in rodent models, and the central sites where MCH acts in regulating energy homeostasis. Emphasis is given on the discrepancies between the genetic and pharmacologic models of MCHR1 inactivation. We propose some solutions to resolve these discrepancies and discuss some future directions in MCH research.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Body Weight / drug effects
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Body Weight / genetics
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Eating / drug effects
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Eating / genetics
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Energy Metabolism / drug effects
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Energy Metabolism / genetics
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Energy Metabolism / physiology*
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Humans
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Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
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Hypothalamic Hormones / genetics
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Hypothalamic Hormones / metabolism*
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Melanins / genetics
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Melanins / metabolism*
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Mice
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Models, Animal
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Obesity / genetics
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Obesity / therapy
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Pituitary Hormones / genetics
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Pituitary Hormones / metabolism*
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / genetics
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / metabolism
Substances
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Hypoglycemic Agents
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Hypothalamic Hormones
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Melanins
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Pituitary Hormones
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone
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melanin-concentrating hormone receptor
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melanin-concentrating hormone