title: Behavioural analysis of melanin-concentrating hormone in rats: evidence for orexigenic and anxiolytic properties.
abstract: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic neuropeptide, predominantly expressed in hypothalamus, and recognized as a key regulator in feeding behaviour and energy balance. In this study, we examined the behavioural effects of intracerebroventricularly administered MCH on food intake, anxiety, exploratory behaviour and body core temperature in rats. MCH (0.15-10.0 microg, i.c.v.) acutely increased food intake in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, MCH (0.6-10.0 microg, i.c.v.) produced effects similar to anxiolytics in an animal model of anxiety, Vogel's punished drinking test. Thus, punished drinking episodes were significantly increased. We found no effects of MCH (5.0-20.0 microg, i.c.v.) on locomotor activity either in habituated or non-habituated animals. Furthermore, MCH did not produce any changes in body core temperature. Together, these observations further support a role for MCH as an orexigenic neuropeptide and also suggest anti-anxiety properties for MCH.
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 35, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kela
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rimondini-Giorgini
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heilig
authors.forename: Claes
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wahlestedt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone