Functions of melanin-concentrating hormone in fish

✍ Scribed by Kawauchi, Hiroshi

• Book ID: 102338496
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 245 KB
• Volume: 305A
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1548-8969
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.a.310

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) was originally discovered in fish, in which it causes aggregation or concentration of melanin granules in melanophores, thus regulating body color. MCH is a cyclic neuropeptide synthesized as a preprohormone in the hypothalamus of all vertebrates. Mammalian MCH plays an important role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis. MCH signaling system may involve in regulating food intake also in fish. This neuropeptide binds to G‐protein‐coupled seven transmembrane receptor[s] to mediate its functions. This article reviews MCH and MCH receptor signaling systems in body color change and food intake in fish. J. Exp. Zool. 305A:751–760, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.