The Brain Melanocortin System, Sympathetic Control, and Obesity Hypertension

Alexandre A. da Silva, Jussara M. do Carmo, Zhen Wang, John E. Hall
2014 Physiology  
Excess weight gain is the most significant, preventable cause of increased blood pressure (BP) in patients with primary (essential) hypertension and increases the risk for cardiovascular and renal diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of the brain melanocortin system in causing increased sympathetic activity in obesity and other forms of hypertension. In addition, we highlight potential mechanisms by which the brain melanocortin system modulates metabolic and cardiovascular functions.
doi:10.1152/physiol.00061.2013 pmid:24789984 pmcid:PMC4046815 fatcat:73p4w5tjgzdd5bvptvltroqlca