title: Ablation of the hypothalamic neuropeptide melanin concentrating hormone is associated with behavioral abnormalities that reflect impaired olfactory integration.
abstract: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is an orexigenic hypothalamic neuropeptide. At least one receptor, MCH receptor 1 (MCHR1), is present in all mammals and is expressed widely throughout the brain, including cortex, striatum and structures implicated in the integration of olfactory cues such as the piriform cortex and olfactory bulb. Consistent with a potential role for MCH in mediating olfactory function, MCH knockout mice demonstrate abnormal olfactory behaviors. These behaviors include impaired food seeking by both genders in the context of normal levels of exploratory behavior, suggesting impaired olfaction. Males also exhibit increased aggression while females show defects in several olfactory mediated behaviors including mating, estrous cycle synchronization and maternal behavior. These findings suggest that hypothalamic inputs through MCH play an important role in regulating sensory integration from olfactory pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Center for Life Sciences, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Eleni M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Domouzoglou
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segal-Lieberman
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pissios
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maratos-Flier
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008543:Melanins / Q000172:deficiency*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone