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2. Melanocortin receptor 4 as a key regulator of motivational valence
We have identified melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4Rs) in the ventral striatum as key regulators of motivational valence (Klawonn et al. J Clin Invest, 2018). Strikingly, mice lacking MC4Rs seem to like aversive stimuli such as inflammation and nausea. We now use optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques to investigate the circuits mediating the regulatory effect of the MC4Rs.