Litter size determines the number of melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in the medial preoptic area of Sprague Dawley lactating dams

Ferreira, Jozélia Gomes Pacheco; Duarte, Jéssica Catharine Gomes; Diniz, Giovanne B.; Bittencourt, Jackson Cioni

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.08.028

Cited by 17 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…On the other hand, prolactin or placental lactogens are secreted during both pregnancy and lactation . Interestingly, our group showed a positive correlation between the number of pups in the litter and the number of MCH neurones in the mPOA, suggesting that the demand for milk regulates MCH expression in the mPOA . The higher is the demand for milk, the higher is the secretion of prolactin during lactation .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…MCH is a phylogenetically conserved peptide and has a wide range of functions, although, in the brain, MCH is strongly implicated in the control of motivated behaviours . Consequently, MCH expression in the mPOA at late lactation may drive behavioural changes associated with the transition between lactation and weaning, particularly the suppression of maternal behaviours . In the present study, we provide new information about possible regulatory factors that control the transient MCH expression in the mPOA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Thus, changes in the neurocircuits that control food intake may regulate MCH expression in the mPOA during lactation. More recently, a study showed that the number of MCH neurones in the mPOA is positively correlated with the number of pups in the litter, suggesting that the demand for milk and/or sucking stimulus are likely key aspects involved in the transient MCH expression in the mPOA . However, the suckling stimulus does not induce FOS immunoreactivity, a marker of activated neurones, in the mPOA MCH neurones .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Regulation and neurochemical identity of melanin‐concentrating hormone neurones in the preoptic area of lactating mice

Teixeira

Wasinski

Lima

et al. 2019

J Neuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Neurones expressing the melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) can be found in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and ventral aspects of the periventricular preoptic nucleus of rats by mid‐to‐late lactation and this expression disappears after weaning. The transitory expression of MCH in the preoptic area suggests a role for these neurones in the control of the end of lactation. However, the neurochemical identity of mPOA MCH neurones and the regulatory factors that control the transient MCH expression remain largely unknown, especially in the mouse. In the present study, we showed that mice also present the transitory expression of MCH in the mPOA at late lactation. mPOA MCH cells did not colocalise significantly with markers of GABAergic (VGAT), glutamatergic (VGLUT2 and VGLUT3) or dopaminergic (tyrosine hydroxylase) neurones. mPOA MCH cells also did not express Kiss1 or oxytocin. By contrast, approximately 70% and 90% of mPOA MCH neurones colocalised with oestrogen receptor α and prolactin‐induced phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), respectively. Finally, we demonstrated that the number of MCH neurones in the mPOA is significantly higher in females during the first lactation, compared to mice on the second lactation or pregnant mice during the first lactation or brain‐specific STAT5 knockout mice during the first lactation. In summary, our findings indicate that MCH neurones in the mPOA of lactating mice are sensitive to oestrogens and prolactin. Thus, mPOA MCH expression is possibly influenced by hormonal variations. Furthermore, the STAT5 signalling pathway is likely involved in the regulation of MCH expression in the mPOA of lactating mice.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Regulation and neurochemical identity of melanin‐concentrating hormone neurones in the preoptic area of lactating mice

Teixeira

Wasinski

Lima

et al. 2019

J Neuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We have demonstrated that these MCH‐immunopositive cells are also pSTAT5 immunopositive and hence prolactin activated. Other studies have demonstrated that the number of suckling pups in late lactation determines the number of cell bodies within the medial part of the mPOA expressing MCH . This would suggest that neuronal stimulation may stimulate transient MCH expression; however, it is likely that this is an indirect effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…A decrease in the number of MCH‐immunopositive cells within the mPOA between days 15 and 21 of lactation independent of the suckling stimulus has been reported . However, other studies have reported that the number of suckling pups was positively correlated with the number of MCH‐immunopositive cells within the mPOA on days 12, 15 and 19 of lactation and that the number of cells increased as lactation progressed …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Prolactin maintains transient melanin‐concentrating hormone expression in the medial preoptic area during established lactation

Kokay

Grattan

Murray

2020

J Neuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A population of neurones in the medial part of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) transiently express melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) in mid to late lactation in the rat, and this expression disappears on weaning. Prolactin is known to mediate many of the physiological adaptations that occur within the dam associated with lactation and the mPOA is well endowed with prolactin receptors (Prlr); hence, we hypothesised that these transiently MCH‐expressing cells may be regulated by prolactin. By in situ hybridisation, we show that approximately 60% of the cells expressing prepro‐MCH (Pmch) mRNA in the medial part of the mPOA on day 19 of lactation also express Prlr mRNA. To demonstrate that these transiently MCH‐expressing cells can acutely respond to prolactin, dams were treated with bromocriptine on the morning of day 19 of lactation and then given vehicle or prolactin 4 hours later. In the prolactin‐treated animals, over 80% of the MCH‐immunopositive cells were also immunopositive for phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, an indicator of prolactin receptor activation: double immunopositive cells were rare in vehicle‐treated animals. Finally, the effect of manipulating the circulating concentrations of prolactin on days 17, 18 and 19 on the number of MCH‐immunopositive cells on day 19 was determined. Reducing circulating concentrations of prolactin over days 17, 18 and 19 of lactation with or without a suckling stimulus resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in the number of MCH‐immunopositive cells in the medial part of the mPOA on day 19 of lactation. Further research is required to determine the functional role(s) of these prolactin‐activated transiently MCH‐expressing neurones; however, we suggest the most likely role involves adaptations in maternal metabolism to support the final week of lactation.

show abstract

Melanin‐concentrating hormone peptidergic system: Comparative morphology between muroid species

Diniz

Battagello

Cherubini

et al. 2019

J of Comparative Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a conserved neuropeptide, predominantly located in the diencephalon of vertebrates, and associated with a wide range of functions. While functional studies have focused on the use of the traditional mouse laboratory model, critical gaps exist in our understanding of the morphology of the MCH system in this species. Even less is known about the nontraditional animal model Neotomodon alstoni (Mexican volcano mouse). A comparative morphological study among these rodents may, therefore, contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of the MCH peptidergic system. To this end, we employed diverse immunohistochemical protocols to identify key aspects of the MCH system, including its spatial relationship to another neurochemical population of the tuberal hypothalamus, the orexins. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions were also employed to convey a better sense of spatial distribution to these neurons. Our results show that the distribution of MCH neurons in all rodents studied follows a basic plan, but individual characteristics are found for each species, such as the preeminence of a periventricular group only in the rat, the lack of posterior groups in the mouse, and the extensive presence of MCH neurons in the anterior hypothalamic area of Neotomodon. Taken together, these data suggest a strong anatomical substrate for previously described functions of the MCH system, and that particular neurochemical

show abstract

Litter size determines the number of melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in the medial preoptic area of Sprague Dawley lactating dams

Cited by 17 publications

References 23 publications

Regulation and neurochemical identity of melanin‐concentrating hormone neurones in the preoptic area of lactating mice

Regulation and neurochemical identity of melanin‐concentrating hormone neurones in the preoptic area of lactating mice

Prolactin maintains transient melanin‐concentrating hormone expression in the medial preoptic area during established lactation

Melanin‐concentrating hormone peptidergic system: Comparative morphology between muroid species

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About