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Melanocortin receptors weigh in

Nature Medicine volume 10, pages 351–352 (2004)Cite this article

Well over ten years ago, hints begin to emerge that the melanocortin system, implicated in adrenal function and skin pigmentation, might also regulate energy balance. In the 1990s, speculation gave way to hard data: a melanocortin receptor highly expressed in the brain was firmly established as a central regulator of food intake and fat mass.

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Figure 1: MC4R integrates energy-related signals.
Figure 2: MC4R-deficient human subject.

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  1. University Departments of Medicine and Clinical Biochemistry, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK

    Stephen O'Rahilly, Giles S H Yeo & I Sadaf Farooqi

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  1. Stephen O'Rahilly
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  2. Giles S H Yeo
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  3. I Sadaf Farooqi
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O'Rahilly, S., Yeo, G. & Farooqi, I. Melanocortin receptors weigh in. Nat Med 10, 351–352 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0404-351

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