Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) increase fear memory expression through melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R)

HERRERA GUADALUPE; GONZALEZ PATRICIA; MACHADO IVANA; LASAGA MERCEDES; SCIMONELLI TERESA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XXX Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia (SAN); 2015

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia

Melanocortins have important effects at central nervoussystem. In particular,alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) throughmelanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) mediates antipyretic and neuroprotectiveactions. Although it has not been concretely demonstrated it has been suggestthat α-MSH also could modulate learning and memory processes. We previouslyestablish that α-MSH prevents the amnesia induced byinflammatory conditions. Moreover it has been report that in vivo applicationof MC4R agonists increases long term potentiation in mouse hippocampal CA1region. In addition, the activation of postsynaptic MC4R augments the number ofmature dendritic spines and enhances surface expression of AMPA receptorsubunit GluA1. These findings indicate that MC4R plays a critical role in theregulation of structural and functional plasticity in the hippocampus. However, the effect of α-MSH onmemory consolidation has not been clearly elucidated