[FUNCTIONAL INTERACTION BETWEEN THE DOPAMINE AND MELANOCORTIN SYSTEMS IN THE BRAIN].

Abstract

The brain melanocortin system plays a key role in the regulation of energy metabolism and feeding behavior and is involved in memory formation, and its abnormalities lead to metabolic disorders and cognitive deficit. The brain dopamine system controls the motor activity, the functions of the nervous, endocrine and cardiovascular systems, and is also involved in the regulation of peripheral metabolism and feeding behavior and in the formation of effect of reward and reinforcement. The fact that a large number of the important physiological functions are controlled by the melanocortin and dopamine systems indicates a close functional relationship between them in different areas of the brain. The basis of this relationship is colocalization of the components of melanocortin and dopamine signaling systems in neurons and interaction between them, which ensures a cross-talk between melanocortin and dopamine pathways in the CNS. The review includes a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the problem concerning the interaction between the melanocortin and dopamine systems of the brain at both the structural and functional levels.