Endocrine Abstracts

Chemogenetic technologies afford the real-time control of molecularly-defined populations of neurons in a spatially and temporally specific fashion. The ability to remotely activate and silence neurons within the context of genetically-intact freely behaving mice provides unprecedented insight into their physiological function and pathological potential. Used in combination with other genetically-encoded tools this approach facilitates the deconvolution of the neural circuitry...

Introduction: The MC4R pathway is the principal regulator of mammalian energy balance through its modulation of energy intake and energy expenditure. Variants in genes associated with the MC4R pathway can result in rare genetic diseases of obesity. Clinical data in patients with certain genetic defects in the MC4R pathway indicate that setmelanotide, an MC4R agonist, may effectively reduce weight and hunger in scientifically rationalized obese subpopulations in which MC4R-path...