Different distributions of preproMCH and hypocretin/orexin in the forebrain of the pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

•MCH and hypocretin neurons are observed in the caudal lateral hypothalamus.•MCH neurons are mainly observed ventro-lateral to the fornix in the LHA.•Hcrt neurons are dorsal to the fornix.•Very abundant MCH projections are found in the insular cortex and amygdala. Neurons producing melanin-concentra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical neuroanatomy 2014-11, Vol.61-62, p.72-82
Main Authors: Chometton, S., Franchi, G., Houdayer, C., Mariot, A., Poncet, F., Fellmann, D., Tillet, Y., Risold, P.Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amygdala
Animals
Comparative anatomy
Female
Hypothalamic Hormones - analysis
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - analysis
Lateral hypothalamic area
Life Sciences
Melanins - analysis
Neural Pathways - metabolism
Neurons - cytology
Neurons - metabolism
Neurons and Cognition
Neuropeptides - analysis
Orexins
Other
Pig brain
Pituitary Hormones - analysis
Prosencephalon - cytology
Prosencephalon - metabolism
Sus scrofa
Sus scrofa domesticus
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Summary:•MCH and hypocretin neurons are observed in the caudal lateral hypothalamus.•MCH neurons are mainly observed ventro-lateral to the fornix in the LHA.•Hcrt neurons are dorsal to the fornix.•Very abundant MCH projections are found in the insular cortex and amygdala. Neurons producing melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) or hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt) have been implicated in the sleep/wake cycle and feeding behavior. Sleep and feeding habits vary greatly among mammalian species, depending in part of the prey/predatory status of animals. However, the distribution of both peptides has been described in only a limited number of species. In this work, we describe the distribution of MCH neurons in the brain of the domestic pig. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, their cell bodies are shown to be located in the posterior lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), as expected. They form a dense cluster ventro-lateral to the fornix while only scattered cells are present dorsal to this tract. By comparison, Hcrt cell bodies are located mainly dorsal to the fornix. Therefore, the two populations of neurons display complementary distributions in the posterior LHA. MCH projections are, as indicated by MCH-positive axons, very abundant in all cortical fields ventral to the rhinal sulcus, as well as in the lateral, basolateral and basomedial amygdala. In contrast, most of the isocortex is sparsely innervated. To conclude, the distribution of MCH cell bodies and projections shows some very specific features in the pig brain, that are clearly different of that described in the rat, mouse or human. In contrast, the Hcrt pattern seems more similar to that in these species, i.e. more conserved. These results suggest that the LHA anatomic organization shows some very significant interspecies differences, which may be related to the different behavioral repertoires of animals with regard to feeding and sleep/wake cycles.
ISSN:0891-0618
1873-6300
DOI:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2014.08.001