PUBLICATION
Melanin-concentrating hormone like (MCHL) and somatolactin. A teleost specific hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis system linking physiological and morphological pigmentation
- Authors
- Bertolesi, G.E., McFarlane, S.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-200909-11
- Date
- 2020
- Source
- Pigment cell & melanoma research 34(3): 564-574 (Review)
- Registered Authors
- Bertolesi, Gabriel, McFarlane, Sarah
- Keywords
- Adaptation, Crypsis, Evolution, Fish, Leucophore, Medaka, Melanocyte, Melanophores, Xanthophore, Zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Adaptation, Physiological*
- Animals
- Fish Proteins/metabolism*
- Fishes/physiology*
- Hypothalamic Hormones/metabolism*
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology*
- Melanins/metabolism*
- Melanosomes/metabolism*
- Pigmentation Disorders/physiopathology*
- Pituitary Hormones/metabolism*
- Skin Pigmentation*
- PubMed
- 32898924 Full text @ Pigment Cell Melanoma Res.
Citation
Bertolesi, G.E., McFarlane, S. (2020) Melanin-concentrating hormone like (MCHL) and somatolactin. A teleost specific hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis system linking physiological and morphological pigmentation. Pigment cell & melanoma research. 34(3):564-574.
Abstract
Plastic adaptation to match the skin colour to the surrounding is key to survival. Two biological responses in skin colour are associated with background adaptation. A fast 'physiological response' that aggregates/disperses the pigment organelles of skin chromatophores, and a slow 'morphological response' that alters the type and/or density of pigment cells in the skin. Both responses are linked by unknown mechanisms. In this review we discuss the role in skin colour regulation of two molecules that form part of a hypothalamic-hypophyseal pathway unique to teleosts, melanin-concentrating hormone 'like' (MCHL) (previously known as MCH) and somatolactin. MCHL neurons project to the neurohypophysis and to the pars intermedia pituitary, where they interact with somatolactin-expressing cells. With a white background MCHL is released into the circulation to induce rapid melanosome aggregation and skin lightening. Somatolactin is also a fish specific peptide whose expression and secretion are altered in organisms adapted chronically to white/black backgrounds, and that regulates morphological pigmentation. We discuss the evidence for a model whereby in teleosts, MCHL and somatolactin provide the previously unknown link between physiological and morphological pigmentation.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping