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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Dec 2.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Metab. 2014 Nov 20;20(6):1018–1029. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2014.10.004

Figure 7. Regulation of GI Epithelial Function by MC4R Activation.

Figure 7

L cells receive basolateral regulatory input from enteric neurons, circulatory factors, and paracrine agents. MC4R, targeted primarily to the basolateral surface of L cells (as opposed to GPR119 which appears present on both domains), is capable of inducing release of PYY and GLP-1 in response to melanocortin peptides. The PYY release, up to 2-4 times above basal levels in vivo, is sufficient to decrease local intestinal epithelial Cl− secretion, shown here, and inhibit motility (an example of another peripheral effect). The physiological source of ligand remains to be determined but could be α-MSH or another POMC melanocortin derivative.