Melanin-concentrating hormone in the human brain.
The presence of human melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) was studied in the human brain by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactive MCH concentrations in the human brain ranged from 0.07 to 19.7 pmol/g wet weight. High performance liquid chromatography of the hypothalamus showed a large immunoreactive peak in the position of human/rat MCH, which was eluted 9 min later than that of salmon MCH. Free-floating sections (40 microns) of the hypothalamus were immunostained. Positive MCH immunostaining was found in perifornical, tuberomammillary, and posterior nuclei. Numerous MCH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed throughout the hypothalamus. The presence of high concentrations of MCH in the human brain, in particular in the hypothalamus, suggests that MCH is a neurotransmitter, a neuromodulator, or a neurohormone in man.
Mouri
T
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
Takahashi
K
K
Kawauchi
H
H
Sone
M
M
Totsune
K
K
Murakami
O
O
Itoi
K
K
Ohneda
M
M
Sasano
H
H
Sasano
N
N
D000368:Aged; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone