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Study · Not a test of the peptide alone · 2018

1 result

Overexpression of melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) in adult paraventricular MC4R neurons regulates energy intake and expenditure.

Bruschetta G, Kim JD, Diano S, Chan LF

Molecular metabolism4 Oct 2018Cited by 24 (Europe PMC)

PMID30352741 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6308034 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.molmet.2018.09.010 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-30352741
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Summary

ObjectiveMelanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) has a critical role in energy homeostasis. Although MRAP2 has been shown to regulates a number of GPCRs involved in metabolism, the key neurons responsible for the phenotype of gross obesity in MRAP2 deficient animals are unclear. Furthermore, to date, all the murine MRAP2 models involve the prenatal deletion of MRAP2.MethodsTo target Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), we performed stereotaxic surgery using AAV to selectively overexpress MRAP2 postnatally in adult Mc4r-cre mice. We assessed energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism, core body temperature, and response to MC3R/MC4R agonist MTII.ResultsMc4r-crePVN-MRAP2 female mice on a standard chow diet had less age-related weight gain and improved glucose/insulin profile compared to control Mc4r-crePVN-GFP mice. These changes were associated with a reduction in food intake and increased energy expenditure. In contrast, Mc4r-crePVN-MRAP2 male mice showed no improvement on a chow diet, but improvement of energy and glucose metabolism was observed following high fat diet (HFD) feeding. In addition, an increase in core body temperature was found in both females fed on standard chow diet and males fed on HFD. Mc4r-crePVN-MRAP2 female and male mice showed increased neuronal activation in the PVN compared to controls, with further increase in neuronal activation post MTII treatment in females.ConclusionsOur data indicate a site-specific role for MRAP2 in PVN MC4R-expressing neurons in potentiating MC4R neuronal activation at baseline conditions in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

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.

  1. 01AnimalNot a test of Melanotan II aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In female mice with MRAP2 overexpression in PVN MC4R neurons, neuronal activation in the PVN was higher than in controls and rose further after MTII treatment.

    In plain wordsIn female mice with extra MRAP2 in these brain cells, nerve cell activity was higher than in controls and rose further after MTII.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    IncreaseNeuronal activation in PVN after MTII
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mc4r-cre mice with AAV MRAP2 overexpression in PVN
    Comparator
    Mc4r-cre PVN-GFP control mice
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Mc4r-crePVN-MRAP2 female and male mice showed increased neuronal activation in the PVN compared to controls, with further increase in neuronal activation post MTII treatment in females.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To target Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), we performed stereotaxic surgery using AAV to selectively overexpress MRAP2 postnatally in adult Mc4r-cre mice.

    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.

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    10 Oct 2026, 09:43 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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