Pro-Melanin Concentrating Hormone Like Protein 1 (PMCHL1)

Pedeutour et al. (1994) mapped the variant pro-melanin-concentrating hormone gene that they designated PMCHL1 to 5p14 by fluorescence in situ hybridization on metaphase chromosomes.The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic neuropeptide isolated initially from salmon pituitary gland and later from rat hypothalamus. In mammals, MCH perikarya are confined largely to the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta area with extensive neuronal projections throughout the brain, including the neurohypophysis. The anatomic distribution suggests a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role for MCH in a broad array of neuronal functions directed toward the regulation of goal-directed behavior, such as food intake, and general arousal.