Transgenic Mice Expressing Green Fluorescent Protein under the Control of the Melanocortin-4 Receptor Promoter

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.23-18-07143.2003
• Publication Date: 2018-04-12T23:25:04Z
• Authors: Hongyan Liu; Toshiro Kishi; Aaron G. Roseberry; Xiaoli Cai; Charlotte E. Lee; Jason M. Montez; Jeffrey M. Friedman; Joel K. Elmquist
• Keywords: Melanocortin 3 receptor; Melanocortin 4 receptor

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) is an important regulator of energy homeostasis, and evidence suggests that MC4-R-expressing neurons are downstream targets leptin action. MC4-Rs broadly expressed in the CNS, distribution MC4-R mRNA has been analyzed most extensively rat. However, relatively little known concerning chemical profiles neurons. extent to which central melanocortins act presynaptically or postsynaptically on also unknown. To address these issues, we have generated a transgenic mouse line expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control promoter, using modified bacterial artificial chromosome. We confirmed CNS GFP-producing cells identical wild-type mice nearly all coexpress mRNA. For example, coexpressing GFP were distributed paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) dorsal motor vagus (DMV). promotor-driven expression was found PVH producing thyrotropin-releasing hormone cholinergic DMV cells. Finally, observed synthetic MC3/4-R agonist, MT-II, depolarizes some GFP-expressing cells, suggesting function instances may others. These studies extend our knowledge MC4-R. should be useful for future role melanocortin signaling regulating feeding behavior autonomic homeostasis.