Activation of the Melanocortin-4 Receptor Prevents Oxidative Damage and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons Exposed to Ethanol

Excessive alcohol intake affects hippocampal function and neuronal communication through oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment. Previous studies have suggested that the melanocortin system (MCS) plays an essential role in alcohol consumption and addiction. The MCS is a hypothalamic region involved in regulating inflammatory processes in the brain, and its pharmacological activation through the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) reduces both...