Agouti-related peptide and MC3/4 receptor agonists both inhibit excitatory hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus neurons.

Fu LY, van den Pol AN

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience1 May 2008Cited by 65 (Europe PMC)

PMID18495877PMCIDPMC2634774DOI10.1523/jneurosci.0749-08.2008PepBankPUB-18495877

Read at source PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In mouse hypothalamic slices, MTII reduced the spontaneous firing rate of VMH vGluT2 neurons.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices, melanotan II slowed the firing of nerve cells in a brain area called the VMH.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
DecreaseSpontaneous firing rate of VMH vGluT2 neurons
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Hypothalamic slices, VMH vGluT2-GFP neurons
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
alpha-MSH, melanotan II (MTII), and selective MC3R or MC4R agonists were all inhibitory, reducing the spontaneous firing rate and hyperpolarizing vGluT2 neurons.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 370 hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) glutamatergic neurons was studied using whole-cell recording in hypothalamic slices from a novel mouse expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) promoter.
Report a problemFND-1849587701
02LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In mouse hypothalamic slices, MTII hyperpolarized VMH vGluT2 neurons.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices, melanotan II made VMH nerve cells less electrically excitable.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
DecreaseMembrane potential of VMH vGluT2 neurons
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Hypothalamic slices, VMH vGluT2-GFP neurons
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
alpha-MSH, melanotan II (MTII), and selective MC3R or MC4R agonists were all inhibitory, reducing the spontaneous firing rate and hyperpolarizing vGluT2 neurons.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 370 hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) glutamatergic neurons was studied using whole-cell recording in hypothalamic slices from a novel mouse expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) promoter.
Report a problemFND-1849587702
03LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In mouse hypothalamic slices without synaptic activity, MTII evoked no hyperpolarization or change in input resistance, which suggests an indirect action.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices with synaptic signalling blocked, melanotan II did not change the nerve cells' electrical state.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
No significant changeHyperpolarization and input resistance without synaptic activity
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Hypothalamic slices, VMH vGluT2-GFP neurons
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
In the absence of synaptic activity, no hyperpolarization or change in input resistance was evoked by either MTII or AgRP, suggesting indirect actions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 370 hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) glutamatergic neurons was studied using whole-cell recording in hypothalamic slices from a novel mouse expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) promoter.
Report a problemFND-1849587704
04LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In mouse hypothalamic slices, MTII increased the frequency of spontaneous and miniature IPSCs in VMH neurons.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices, melanotan II increased inhibitory input signals to VMH nerve cells.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
IncreaseSpontaneous and miniature IPSC frequency
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Hypothalamic slices, VMH vGluT2-GFP neurons
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Consistent with this view, MTII increased the frequency of spontaneous and miniature IPSCs.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 370 hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) glutamatergic neurons was studied using whole-cell recording in hypothalamic slices from a novel mouse expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) promoter.
Report a problemFND-1849587705

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Melanotan II was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Melanotan II.

05LabNot a test of Melanotan II aloneEx vivo tissueMechanism
In mouse hypothalamic slices, AgRP did not attenuate the inhibitory action of MTII on VMH neurons; the two compounds showed an additive inhibitory effect.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices, AgRP did not weaken melanotan II's slowing of nerve cells; together they slowed the cells more.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
DecreaseCombined MTII and AgRP effect on VMH neurons
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Hypothalamic slices, VMH vGluT2-GFP neurons
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Unexpectedly, AgRP did not attenuate MTII actions on these neurons; instead, these two compounds showed an additive inhibitory effect.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A total of 370 hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) glutamatergic neurons was studied using whole-cell recording in hypothalamic slices from a novel mouse expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) promoter.
In this study, Melanotan II was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan II.
Report a problemFND-1849587703

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
10 Oct 2026, 09:43 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Agouti-related peptide and MC3/4 receptor agonists both inhibit excitatory hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus neurons.

Summary

Results from this study5

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

Version history

Subjects

Publication types

MeSH terms