title: A preliminary investigation of the role of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and its receptors in appetite regulation of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus).
abstract: In order to better understand the role of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the regulation of appetite in fish, the mRNAs of two forms of MCH, prepro-MCH and MCH2, and two forms of MCH receptors, MCH-R1 and MCH-R2, were isolated from winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). In addition, the mRNA expressions of these peptides and their receptors were determined under fed and fasted conditions. Both MCHs are expressed in forebrain and midbrain, as well as peripheral tissues including gut and gonads. Both MCH-Rs are ubiquitously expressed in the brain and periphery. Fasting induced an increase in the expression levels of MCH and MCH-R1 mRNAs in optic tectum/thalamus and hypothalamus but had no effect on either MCH2 or MCH-R2 mRNA expressions. Our results suggest that MCH and MCH-R1, but not MCH2 and MCH-R2 might have a role in the regulation of appetite in flounder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B-3X9.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tuziak
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Volkoff
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005432:Flounder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005508:Food Deprivation; D015870:Gene Expression; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone; C092274:melanin-concentrating hormone receptor; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone