黑素皮质素受体-3(MC3R)与D2-多巴胺受体(D2R)相互作用机制研究

黑素皮质素受体-3（melanocortin-3 receptor，MC3R）作为中央黑皮质系统的重要组成部分，其在生物能量代谢调控中的作用备受关注。但目前对于MC3R参与能量代谢调控的确切作用和机制仍需进一步探索。另一方面，MC3R在中脑边缘区的腹侧被盖区(ventral tegmental area，VTA)有较高水平的表达，而VTA是中脑-边缘结构-前脑奖赏神经环路的重要组成部分，MC3R在该区域的高水平表达、以及与D2R的共表达现象使对其功能的研究，从能量代谢和进食行为的调控，进入到享乐型机制的领域。越来越多的证据表明，MC3R的功能会影响大脑奖赏通路多巴胺系统的活动，极有可能通过调节与食物奖赏相关的行为，影响生物能量平衡。本项目拟研究MC3R与D2R之间是否存在相互作用、是否产生独特的信号传导效应，以期更进一步地探索MC3R在能量代谢调控中的作用。

Melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R), as an important part of the central melanocortin system, has been studied for around two decades for its role in energy regulation. However, its specific functions and mechanisms underlying energy regulation are still unclear. On the other hand, MC3R has been found highly expressed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which consists of the reward system in brain. Furthermore, MC3R is also highly co-expressed with D2-dopamine receptor (D2R) in this area, and the latter one is a critical regulator of the reward system. More and more studies implicated that MC3R may be involved in the regulation of energy balance via dopamine signaling, probably through D2R. The present project aims at investigating the potential interactions between MC3R and D2R, in order to get further information about the role of MC3R in energy regulation.