Advances in Quantitative Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy for Central Nervous System Melanocortin Hormone Quantification

Abstract

The melanocortin system is related to the regulatory balance of various physiological functions including the eating behavior through the melanocortin pathway by stimulating receptors with several endogenous melanocortin agonists. These agonists include the mature hormone αmelanocyte–stimulating hormone (α-MSH), processed by the hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, and are a signal for decreasing energy intake. Besides, a functional POMC circuit was also described in the hippocampus. In addition to its effects in the control of intake, α-MSH has potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions. This review outlines key considerations for the analysis of the hormone α-MSH in brain tissue by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method.