Melanocortin 4 receptor signaling in dopamine 1 receptor neurons is required for procedural memory learning

Huxing Cui; Brittany L Mason; Charlotte Lee; Akinori Nishi; Joel K Elmquist; Michael Lutter

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.01.025

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Melanocortin 4 receptor signaling in dopamine 1 receptor neurons is required for procedural memory learning

Journal article

Open access

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Melanocortin 4 receptor signaling in dopamine 1 receptor neurons is required for procedural memory learning

Huxing Cui, Brittany L Mason, Charlotte Lee, Akinori Nishi, Joel K Elmquist and Michael Lutter

Physiology & behavior, Vol.106(2), pp.201-210

05/15/2012

DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.01.025

PMCID: PMC3314089

PMID: 22342812

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3314089View

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Abstract

It is now widely recognized that exposure to palatable foods engages reward circuits that promote over-eating and facilitate the development of obesity. While the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) has previously been shown to regulate food intake and energy expenditure, little is known about its role in food reward. We demonstrate that MC4R is co-expressed with the dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) in the ventral striatum. While MC4R-null mice are hyperphagic and obese, they exhibit impairments in acquisition of operant responding for a high fat reinforcement. Restoration of MC4R signaling in D1R neurons normalizes procedural learning without affecting motivation to obtain high fat diet. MC4R signaling in D1R neurons is also required for learning in a non-food-reinforced version of the cued water maze. Finally, MC4R signaling in neostriatal slices increases phosphorylation of the Thr34 residue of DARPP-32, a protein phosphatase-1 inhibitor that regulates synaptic plasticity. These data identify a novel requirement for MC4R signaling in procedural memory learning. [Display omitted] ► The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is expressed in a dopamine 1 receptor neurons. ► MC4R signaling regulates acquisition of operant responding for palatable food. ► MC4R signaling is required for learning in a cued version of the water maze. ► DARPP-32, a regulator of synaptic plasticity, is phosphorylated after MC4R agonist.

Dopamine

Learning

Melanocortin

Behavior

Details

Title: Subtitle: Melanocortin 4 receptor signaling in dopamine 1 receptor neurons is required for procedural memory learning
Creators: Huxing Cui - Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Hypothalamic Research), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9127, United States
Brittany L Mason - Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9127, United States
Charlotte Lee - Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Hypothalamic Research), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9127, United States
Akinori Nishi - Kurume University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
Joel K Elmquist - Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Hypothalamic Research), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9127, United States
Michael Lutter - Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9127, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Physiology & behavior, Vol.106(2), pp.201-210
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.01.025
PMID: 22342812
PMCID: PMC3314089
NLM abbreviation: Physiol Behav
ISSN: 0031-9384
eISSN: 1873-507X
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Grant note: name: DK081185-01; name: DK081182-01; name: MH084058-01A1; name: Disease Oriented Clinical Scholars Program; name: NARSAD; name: JST; name: R01DK53301; name: RL1DK081185
Language: English
Date published: 05/15/2012
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Record Identifier: 9984040321402771

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