Melanin-concentrating hormone

Melanin-concentrating hormone
Identifiers
Symbol	PMCH
CAS number	67382-96-1
Entrez	5367
HUGO	9109
OMIM	176795
RefSeq	NM_002674
UniProt	P20382
Other data
Locus	Chr. 12 q23.2

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic 19-amino acid orexigenic hypothalamic peptide originally isolated from the pituitary gland of teleost fish where it controls skin pigmentation.

In mammals it is involved in the regulation of feeding behavior, mood, sleep-wake cycle^[1] and energy balance. MCH expressing neurons are located within the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta. Despite this restricted distribution MCH neurons project widely throughout the brain. MCH knockout mice are hypophagic (eat less) and lean and are hyperactive.^[2][3] When administered centrally it increases food intake and weight gain.

See also

• Melanin-concentrating hormone receptor (MCHR)

References

1. Verret L, Goutagny R, Fort P, Cagnon L, Salvert D, Léger L, Boissard R, Salin P, Peyron C, Luppi PH. (2003). "A role of melanin-concentrating hormone producing neurons in the central regulation of paradoxical sleep". BMC Neurosci 4 (19): 19. doi:10.1186/1471-2202-4-19. PMC 201018. PMID 12964948.
2. Marsh DJ, Weingarth DT, Novi DE, Chen HY, Trumbauer ME, Chen AS, Guan XM, Jiang MM, Feng Y, Camacho RE, Shen Z, Frazier EG, Yu H, Metzger JM, Kuca SJ, Shearman LP, Gopal-Truter S, MacNeil DJ, Strack AM, MacIntyre DE, Van der Ploeg LH, Qian S. (2002). "Melanin-concentrating hormone 1 receptor-deficient mice are lean, hyperactive, and hyperphagic and have altered metabolism.". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99 (5): 3240–5. doi:10.1073/pnas.052706899. PMID 11867747.
3. Lalonde R, Qian S. (2007). "Exploratory activity, motor coordination, and spatial learning in Mchr1 knockout mice.". Behav Brain Res 178 (2): 293–304. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2007.01.006. PMID 17270288.

External links

• Melanin-concentrating hormone at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)