title: Physiological properties of hypothalamic MCH neurons identified with selective expression of reporter gene after recombinant virus infection.
abstract: Neurons that synthesize melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) may modulate arousal and energy homeostasis. The scattered MCH neurons have been difficult to study, as they have no defining morphological characteristics. We have developed a viral approach with AAV for selective long-term reporter gene (GFP) expression in MCH neurons, allowing the study of their cellular physiology in hypothalamic slices. MCH neurons showed distinct membrane properties compared to other neurons infected with the same virus with a cytomegalovirus promoter. Transmitters of extrahypothalamic arousal systems, including norepinephrine, serotonin, and the acetylcholine agonist muscarine, evoked direct inhibitory actions. Orexigenic neuropeptide Y was inhibitory by pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms; an anorexigenic melanocortin agonist had no effect. In contrast, the hypothalamic arousal peptide hypocretin/orexin evoked a direct inward current and increased excitatory synaptic activity and spike frequency in the normally silent MCH neurons. Together, these data support the view that MCH neurons may integrate information within the arousal system in favor of energy conservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. anthony.vandenpol@yale.edu
authors.forename: Anthony N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: van den Pol
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acuna-Goycolea
authors.forename: K Reed
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Prabhat K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009116:Muscarine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000494:pharmacology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068797:Orexins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone; D009116:Muscarine