title: Melanin-concentrating hormone: unique peptide neuronal system in the rat brain and pituitary gland.
abstract: A unique neuronal system was detected in the rat central nervous system by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay with antibodies to salmon melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH). MCH-like immunoreactive (MCH-LI) cell bodies were confined to the hypothalamus. MCH-LI fibers were found throughout the brain but were most prevalent in hypothalamus, mesencephalon, and pons-medulla regions. High concentrations of MCH-LI were measured in the hypothalamic medial forebrain bundle (MFB), posterior hypothalamic nucleus, and nucleus of the diagonal band. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of MFB extracts from rat brain indicate that MCH-like peptide from the rat has a different retention time than that of the salmon MCH. An osmotic stimulus (2% NaCl as drinking water for 120 hr) caused a marked increase in MCH-LI concentrations in the lateral hypothalamus and neurointermediate lobe. The present studies establish the presence of MCH-like peptide in the rat brain. The MCH-LI neuronal system is well situated to coordinate complex functions such as regulation of water intake.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone