Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Agouti related peptide (AgRP), the endogenous antagonist of the melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors, is expressed at high levels in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Some studies have demonstrated that intracerebroventricular AgRP administration increases plasma LH, FSH, testosterone levels. It also increases hypothalamic LHRH release in vitro, an effect that can be prevented by addition of melanocyte stimulating hormone. These findings suggest that AgRP ma...