Melanocortin receptors: their functions and regulation by physiological agonists and antagonists

The melanocortins are a family of bioactive peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin, and share significant structural similarity. Those peptides are best known for their stimulatory effects on pigmentation and steroidogenesis. Melanocortins are synthesized in various sites in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues, and participate in regulating multiple physiological functions. Research during the past decade has provided evidence that melanocortins elicit their diverse biological effects by binding to a distinct family of G protein-coupled receptors with seven transmembrane domains. To date, five melanocortin receptor genes have been cloned and characterized. Those receptors differ in their tissue distribution and in their ability to recognize the various melanocortins and the physiological antagonists, agouti signaling protein and agouti-related protein. These advances have opened new horizons for exploring the significance of melanocortins, their antagonists, and their receptors in a variety of important physiological functions. Received 5 October 2000; accepted 10 November 2000     

不同间隔时间电针对佐剂性关节炎大鼠炎症局部前阿黑皮素和前脑啡肽原mRNA表达的影响

目的:观察不同间隔时间电针对佐剂性关节炎(AA)大鼠的镇痛效应,以探讨针刺镇痛的最佳间隔时间和作用机制。方法:将96只大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和电针组,每组再分为3 h、6 h、12 h和24 h小组,以Freund’s完全佐剂造成AA大鼠模型,电针选取悬钟和昆仑穴,分别以3 h、6 h、12 h和24 h作为治疗间隔时间,连续治疗6 d,以痛阈、炎症局部前阿黑皮素(POMC)mRNA和前脑啡肽原(PENK)mRNA表达作为观察指标。结果:间隔24 h电针能显著提高AA大鼠的痛阈;不同间隔时间电针均能促进炎症局部POMC mRNA和PENK mRNA的表达。结论:间隔24 h电针可明显提高对AA大鼠的镇痛效应;不同间隔时间电针镇痛效应与促进炎症局部阿片肽基因表达有关。