Melanin-concentrating hormone: unique peptide neuronal systems in the rat brain and pituitary gland

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.83.5.1528· OSTI ID:5399984

Zamir, N; Skofitsch, G; Bannon, M J; Jacobowitz, D M

A unique neuronal system was detected in the rat central nervous system by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay with antibodies to salmon melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH). MCH-like immunoreactive (MCH-LI) cell bodies were confined to the hypothalamus. MCH-LI fibers were found throughout the brain but were most prevalent in hypothalamus, mesencephalon, and pons-medulla regions. High concentrations of MCH-LI were measured in the hypothalamic medial forebrain bundle (MFB), posterior hypothalamic nucleus, and nucleus of the diagonal band. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of MFB extracts from rat brain indicate that MCH-like peptide from the rat has a different retention time than that of the salmon MCH. An osmotic stimuls (2% NaCl as drinking water for 120 hr) caused a marked increase in MCH-LI concentrations in the lateral hypothalamus and neurointermediate lobe. The present studies establish the presence of MCH-like peptide in the rat brain. The MCH-LI neuronal system is well situated to coordinate complex functions such as regulation of water intake.

• Research Organization: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5399984
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 83:5; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CYTOCHEMISTRY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
DRINKING WATER
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FUNCTIONS
GLANDS
HORMONES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
MAMMALS
MELANIN
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
PITUITARY GLAND
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RETENTION FUNCTIONS
RODENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
WATER