title: The MCH neuron population as a model for the development and evolution of the lateral and dorsal hypothalamus.
abstract: The LHA contains neurons producing melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) or hypocretin (Hcrt) that have emerged as being more conspicuous and representative of the posterior LHA. In this review, we focus on MCH neurons and show that they have unique qualities. Their distribution is conserved in the posterior hypothalamus of all vertebrates and their ontogenetic differentiation is very precocious in the rodent embryo. In mammals, interspecific differences in their medio-lateral distribution suggest that the LHA differentiation may follow species specific strategies. These characteristics make a very valuable tool of MCH neurons to study the development as well as the phylogenetical origin and differentiation of the LHA.
authors.affiliation: EA 3922, SFR FED 4234, UFR Sciences Médicales et Pharmaceutiques, Université de Franche-Comté, 19 rue Ambroise Paré, 25000 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chometton
authors.affiliation: The Saban Research Institute, Neuroscience Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Croizier
authors.affiliation: EA 3922, SFR FED 4234, UFR Sciences Médicales et Pharmaceutiques, Université de Franche-Comté, 19 rue Ambroise Paré, 25000 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fellmann
authors.affiliation: EA 3922, SFR FED 4234, UFR Sciences Médicales et Pharmaceutiques, Université de Franche-Comté, 19 rue Ambroise Paré, 25000 Besançon, France. Electronic address: pierre-yves.risold@univ-fcomte.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Risold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone
keywords: Developmental genes; Diencephalon; Hypocretin; Sonic hedgehog