Melanin-concentrating hormone and sleep

- MCH-related peptide and gene transcripts (NEI) may act as co-modulator of sleep-wake states.
- The MCH system exhibits a clear sexual dimorphism.
- MCH neurons participate to maternal behaviors.
- MCH neurons may modulate sleep-wake cycle across the estrus cycle.

The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is an essential neuromodulator involved with homeostatic regulation and motivated behaviors. The majority of MCH neurons are localized within the zona incerta, lateral hypothalamic and incerto-hypothalamic areas but others regions, as the olfactory turbecle, the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, the paramediam pontine reticular formation and the medial preoptic area, can also express the peptide depending on the gender and metabolic state of the animal. If the MCH on these novel sites of expression are also related with the control of wake-sleep cycle will be discuss in this review.