Melanotan II, a melanocortin agonist, partially rescues the impaired thermogenic capacity of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide deficient mice
What is the central question of this study? Can chronic treatment of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) deficient mice with the melanocortin agonist melanotan II during cold acclimation rescue the impaired thermogenic capacity previously observed in PACAP deficient mice? What is the main finding and its importance? Using a genetic model of PACAP deficiency, this study provides evidence that PACAP acts upstream of the melanocortin system in regulating sympathetic nerve activity to brown adipose tissue in mice.
Experimental physiology