Regulation of food intake by melanin-concentrating hormone in goldfish

Kouhei Matsuda*, Kenji Kojima, Sei Ichi Shimakura, Akiyoshi Takahashi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), originally discovered in the teleost pituitary, is a hypothalamic neuropeptide involved in the regulation of body color in fish. Although MCH is also present in the mammalian brain, it has no evident function in providing pigmentation. Instead, this peptide is now recognized to be one of the key neuropeptides that act as appetite enhancers in mammals such as rodents and primates. Although there has been little information about the central action of MCH on appetite in fish, recent studies have indicated that, in goldfish, MCH acts as an anorexigenic neuropeptide, modulating the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone signaling pathway through neuronal interaction. These observations indicate that there may be major differences in the mode of action of MCH between fish and mammals. This paper reviews what is currently known about the regulation of food intake by MCH in fish, especially the goldfish.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2060-2065
Number of pages6
JournalPeptides
Volume30
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009/11

Keywords

  • Anorexigenic action
  • Feeding regulation
  • Fish
  • Goldfish
  • Hypothalamus
  • MCH
  • Neuronal interaction
  • Neuropeptides

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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