Lateral hypothalamus melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons are a key neuronal population that plays essential roles in sleep-wake regulation, energy homeostasis, and reward processing. These neurons are prominently implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, where sleep disturbances are early and prevalent symptoms. MCH neurons represent a promising therapeutic target for addressing non-motor symptoms in neurodegeneration.
The lateral hypothalamus (LH) contains two major peptidergic neuron populations: orexin/hypocretin neurons and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons. While orexin neurons promote wakefulness, MCH neurons are primarily associated with sleep promotion and energy conservation. MCH is a 19-amino acid neuropeptide originally discovered in fish where it controls skin pigmentation. [1]
| Taxonomy | ID | Name / Label |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Ontology (CL) | CL:4042036 | melanin-concentrating hormone neuron |
| Database | ID | Name | Confidence | [2]
|----------|----|------|------------| [3]
| Cell Ontology | CL:4042036 | melanin-concentrating hormone neuron | Exact | [4]
MCH neurons are concentrated in the: [5]
MCH neurons receive inputs from: [6]
MCH acts through two G-protein coupled receptors:
MCH neurons are affected in Alzheimer's disease:
In Parkinson's disease, MCH neurons contribute to:
](/cell-types/orexin-hypocretin-neurons-—-wake-promoting-hypothalamic-neurons
--lateral-hypothalamus-expanded-—-hypothalamic-integration-center
--parkinson's-disease-—-neurodegenerative-movement-disorder
--alzheimer's-disease-—-neurodegenerative-dementia
--sleep-disorders-in-neurodegeneration-—-sleep-dysfunction
--hypothalamic-regulation-of-sleep-—-sleep-wake-circuits)## External Links
The study of Lateral Hypothalamus Mch Neurons has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Peyron C, et al. (1998). Neurons containing hypocretin (orexin) project to multiple neuronal systems. Journal of Neuroscience, 18(23): 9996-10015. 1998. ↩︎
Jego S, et al. (2013). Optogenetic identification of a rapid eye movement sleep-modulating circuit in the hypothalamus. Nature Neuroscience, 16(11): 1637-1643. 2013. ↩︎
Tsunematsu T, et al. (2014). Optogenetic manipulation of activity of recently identified neurons in vivo. Brain Research, 1559: 32-40. 2014. ↩︎
Pimentel D, et al. (2016). Sleep state switching. Neuron, 92(3): 510-525. 2016. ↩︎
Konadhode RR, et al. (2013). Optogenetic stimulation of MCH neurons attenuates wakefulness. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(26): 10256-10262. 2013. ↩︎
Sapin E, et al. (2019). Critical role of melanin-concentrating hormone in the generation of arousal state-dependent memory. Learning & Memory, 26(7): 286-294. 2019. ↩︎