Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in the developing chick brain.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in the developing chick brain. Brain Res. 2018 Dec 01;1700:19-30 Authors: Li S, Yip A, Bird J, Seok BS, Chan A, Godden KE, Tam LD, Ghelardoni S, Balaban E, Martinez-Gonzalez D, Pompeiano M Abstract The present study was undertaken because no previous developmental studies exist on MCH neurons in any avian species. After validating a commercially-available antibody for use in chickens, immunohistochemical examinations first detected MCH neurons around embryonic day (E) 8 in the posterior hypothalamus. This population increased thereafter, reaching a numerical maximum by E20. MCH-positive cell bodies were found only in the posterior hypothalamus at all ages examined, restricted to a region showing very little overlap with the locations of hypocretin/orexin (H/O) neurons. Chickens had fewer MCH than H/O neurons, and MCH neurons also first appeared later in development than H/O neurons (the opposite of what has been found in rodents). MCH neurons appeared to originate from territories within the hypothalamic periventricular organ that partially overlap with the source of diencephalic serotonergic neurons. Chicken MCH fibers developed exuberantly during the second half of embryonic development, and they became abundant in the same brain areas as in rodents, including the hypothalamus (by E12), locus coeruleus (by E12), dorsal raphe nucleus (by E20) and septum (by E20). These observations suggest...
Source: Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Res Source Type: research