The melanin‐concentrating hormone system of the rat brain: An immuno‐ and hybridization histochemical characterization

Bittencourt, Jackson C.; Presse, Françoise; Arias, Carlos; Peto, Charles A.; Vaughan, Joan; Nahon, Jean‐Louis; Vale, Wylie; Sawchenko, Paul E.

doi:10.1002/cne.903190204

Cited by 1,016 publications

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“…121 One of the unique features of both sets of neurons is that they provide monosynaptic projections to a variety of CNS sites including the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and the spinal cord. [118][119][120][121] Similarly, a broad distribution of the receptors that bind these peptides has also been reported. [122][123][124][125] MCH stimulates feeding behavior when administered centrally.…”

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confidence: 86%

“…133 Finally, as noted, the distribution of MCH-and ORXpositive terminals is widespread not only in subcortical regions but also in cortical regions. [118][119][120][121]133 This unique hypothalamo-cortical innervation pattern implicates both peptides in regulating complex cognitive function. This concept is worth noting when attempting to link sites regulating body weight homeostasis and those involved in several psychiatric disorders.…”

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“…66 As noted, the LHA has long been considered to play an essential role in regulating food intake. Recently, two orexigenic peptides produced by discrete populations of LHA neurons in rodents and humans refocused attention on the LHA: melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) [118][119][120] and the orexins (ORX, also called hypocretins). 121 One of the unique features of both sets of neurons is that they provide monosynaptic projections to a variety of CNS sites including the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and the spinal cord.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…199 Acetylcholine has also been indicated to influence MCH signaling; for example, a cholinergic agonist carbachol increases MCH mRNA expression in hypothalamic slices. 200 MCH is, as stressed, an established regulator of energy balance [118][119][120]126,127 and is produced at the LHA that receives leptin and melanocortinergic signals. 66,71,72 Notably, a subset of MCH neurons coexpresses the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3Ach-R), and M3Ach-R À/À mice are hypophagic despite extremely low levels of serum leptin.…”

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“…118,121,133 Thus, metabolic, emotional, and cognitive information may be assimilated at the hypothalamus, and in turn forwarded to the neocortex, resulting in the ultimate decision to eat or not to eat. An interrelation between cortical glutamatergic and ascending dopaminergic systems has also been discussed to re-evaluate the classic dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, 209 which may also be relevant to the CNS mechanisms of feeding as a motivated behavior.…”

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Body weight is regulated by the brain: a link between feeding and emotion

2005

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Regulated energy homeostasis is fundamental for maintaining life. Unfortunately, this critical process is affected in a high number of mentally ill patients. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are prevalent in modern societies. Impaired appetite and weight loss are common in patients with depression. In addition, the use of neuroleptics frequently produces obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of these behavioral and metabolic conditions are largely unknown. In this review, we first concentrate on the established brain machinery of food intake and body weight, especially on the melanocortin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) systems as illustration. These systems play a critical role in receiving and processing critical peripheral metabolic cues such as leptin and ghrelin. It is also notable that both systems modulate emotion and motivated behavior as well. Secondly, we discuss the significance and potential promise of multidisciplinary molecular and neuroanatomic techniques that will likely increase the understanding of brain circuitries coordinating energy homeostasis and emotion. Finally, we introduce several lines of evidence suggesting a link between the melanocortin/NPY systems and several neurotransmitter systems on which many of the psychotropic agents exert their influence. Maintaining energy homeostasis is fundamental for survival. However, obesity due to over-nutrition is an increasing worldwide public health problem. 1 In psychiatric practice, on the other hand, impaired appetite is one of the crucial issues. Anorexia and weight loss are common, for example, in patients suffering from depression. Eating disorders are medically intractable and life threatening. In addition, the so-called 'atypical' antipsychotic agents, currently and widely used to treat psychoses, often induce hyperphagia, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. [2][3][4] In the past decade, fortunately, there has been remarkable progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of food intake and body weight. This is due in large part to increased research activity towards combating the rising incidences of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. As a result, it is now established that the central nervous system (CNS) senses and processes peripheral metabolic cues including leptin 5 and ghrelin, 6,7 resulting in coordinated energy homeostasis. However, the pathophysiology of the disequilibrium between energy intake and expenditure in psychiatric disorders remains largely unknown. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that several CNS systems regulating energy balance may be dysregulated in patients with mental illnesses, for example, eating disorders, and drug addiction. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In the current review, we will illustrate the neuroanatomic and molecular genetic aspects of the melanocortin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) systems residing in the CNS downstream of leptin and ghrelin, to discuss the neural bases of feeding, metabolism, and emotion. Additionally, we point the reader to...

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Body weight is regulated by the brain: a link between feeding and emotion

2005

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Distribution of neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system ofRana esculenta

et al. 1996

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The distribution of perikarya and nerve fibers containing neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity in the brain of Rana esculenta was determined with an antiserum directed toward the carboxyl terminus of the peptide. In the telencephalon, immunoreactive perikarya were found in the olfactory bulb, the medial septum, and the diagonal band. In the diencephalon, labeled perikarya were detected in the anterior and posterior preoptic areas, the dorsal nucleus of the hypothalamus, the caudal part of the infundibulum, and the posterior tuberculum. In the mesencephalon, immunoreactive cell bodies were found only in the laminar nucleus of the torus semicircularis and the anterodorsal tegmental nucleus. In the rhombencephalon, labeled perikarya were detected in the secondary visceral nucleus, the cerebellar nucleus, the central gray, and the nucleus of the solitary tract. Immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in all areas of the brain that contained labeled perikarya. The densest accumulations were found in the nucleus accumbens; the dorsal part of the lateral septum; the periventricular region of the ventral thalamus; the lateral part of the infundibulum; the anterodorsal, anteroventral, posterodorsal, and posteroventral tegmental nuclei; and the periaqueductal region of the tegmentum. The distribution of neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity in the frog brain was substantially different from the distribution described for the rodent brain.

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Melanin-concentrating hormone system in the brain of the lungfishProtopterus annectens

et al. 1998

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The neurochemical anatomy of the lungfish brain is of particular interest, because many features in these animals might be representative of the common ancestor of land vertebrates. In the present study, we have investigated the localization and biochemical characteristics of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-immunoreactive material in the central nervous system of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens. The most prominent group of MCH-immunoreactive cell bodies was found in the dorsal hypothalamus. Additional groups of MCH-immunoreactive perikarya were detected in the telencephalon within the medial and dorsal pallium, the medial subpallium, and the ventral part of the lateral subpallium. Brightly immunofluorescent nerve fibers were seen in the anterior olfactory nucleus, the ventral part of the medial pallium, the medial subpallium, and the anterior preoptic area. In the diencephalon, the hypothalamus and the medial region of the dorsal thalamus exhibited a dense accumulation of fibers. MCH-immunoreactive fibers were also found in the tectum and the tegmentum of the mesencephalon and within the reticular formation of the rhombencephalon. In the pituitary, several small groups of cells of the intermediate lobe showed a bright fluorescence. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of diencephalon and pituitary extracts resolved a major MCH-immunoreactive peak that coeluted with synthetic salmon MCH. The distribution of MCH in the brain of P. annectens suggests that, in lungfishes, this peptide may exert neuromodulator or neurotransmitter functions. The presence of MCH-like immunoreactivity in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary indicates that, in dipnoans, MCH may also act as a typical pituitary hormone.

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The melanin‐concentrating hormone system of the rat brain: An immuno‐ and hybridization histochemical characterization

Cited by 1,016 publications

References 65 publications

Body weight is regulated by the brain: a link between feeding and emotion

Body weight is regulated by the brain: a link between feeding and emotion

Distribution of neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system ofRana esculenta

Melanin-concentrating hormone system in the brain of the lungfishProtopterus annectens

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