Molecular mechanisms of appetite control via 5-HT1B receptors

Appetite is a complex form of behaviour controlled by diverse neuronal populations of the Central Nervous System. Two of the most important of these are neurons within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus that produce the potent hunger neuropeptide agouti-related protein (AgRP) and neighbouring neurons that produce satiety stimulating pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)(Reference Heisler and Lam1). It is important not to feel both hungry and full at the same time so that it is clear whether to eat or stop eating. To prevent this, AgRP neurons send inhibitory synapses to POMC neurons utilizing g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a neurotransmitter. Thus, when AgRP neurons are active and stimulate hunger, they also inhibit satiety POMC neurons. However, molecular mechanisms controlling the AgRP-POMC interplay have yet to be fully clarified.