Dorsal raphe nucleus MC4R-GABAergic neurons regulate feeding and anxiety.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) plays a key role in the CNS regulation of metabolism. In addition to its role within the hypothalamus, other brain areas, including the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), express MC4R. However, the identity and role of these neurons in metabolism regulation are not fully understood. We performed studies to address these questions.

Methods

We generated Mc4r-cre;Vgat-FlpO and Mc4r-cre;Vglut2-FlpO mice to determine the contribution of these MC4R neuronal populations in DRN. We then chemogenetically activated or inhibited the GABAergic and glutamatergic populations of MC4R. Finally, we selectively deleted MC4R from these two neuronal populations and studied the impact on whole-body metabolism.

Results

We found that about 60% of DRN MC

SUBMITTER: Yamagata S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12275976 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature