Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Pigmentation01:19

Pigmentation

The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Major Hormones and Their Functions01:27

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
Target Cell Response to Hormones01:22

Target Cell Response to Hormones

Hormones intricately bind to receptors on the surface or within target cells, initiating a cascade of cellular responses.
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...
The Pineal Gland01:02

The Pineal Gland

The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
Hormonal Regulation01:33

Hormonal Regulation

The renin-aldosterone system is an endocrine system which guides the renal absorption of water and electrolytes, thus managing blood pressure and osmoregulation. Activation of the system begins in the kidneys with a small cluster of cells adjacent to the afferent and efferent blood vessels of the renal corpuscle. As the nephrons are filtering blood, juxtaglomerular cells monitor blood pressure. If they detect a decrease in pressure, they release the hormone renin into the bloodstream.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Defining characteristics of immersion carbon dioxide gas for successful euthanasia of neonatal and young broilers.

Poultry science·2020
Same author

Evaluation of carbon dioxide induction methods for the euthanasia of day-old cull broiler chicks.

Poultry science·2019
Same author

The effect of various stresses, corticosteroids and adrenergic agents on phagocytosis in the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Fish physiology and biochemistry·2013
Same author

The Biosynthesis of Melanin-Concentrating Hormone in Trout Kept Under Different Conditions of Background Colour and Stress, as Determined by an in vitro Method.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2011
Same author

The biosynthesis of melanin-concentrating hormone in a fish.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2009
Same author

Differences in arginine vasotocin gene transcripts and cortisol secretion in trout with high or low endogenous melanin-concentrating hormone secretion.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2001
Same journal

Mitochondria produce lactate to vent redox pressure.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

Beyond fat storage: neuronal lipid droplets regulate whole-body metabolism.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

HDL resuscitates cells from ferroptosis.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

2-Methylbutyrylcarnitine (2MBC).

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

Decoding growth hormone actions on human growth plate stem cells.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same journal

Androgen loss backfires: Brain gate for tumor immunity.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
12:37

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model

Published on: September 7, 2013

Melanin-concentration hormone updated functional considerations.

B I Baker1

  • 1School of Biology and Biochemistry, Bath University, Bath, Avon BA2 7AY, England.

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|April 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a brain peptide involved in various functions, including behavior and sensory perception. Research highlights its response to environmental factors, suggesting conserved roles across vertebrates.

More Related Videos

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
06:08

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro

Published on: March 6, 2019

Laser Microdissection-Based Protocol for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of the Proteomic Profile of Neuromelanin Granules
07:35

Laser Microdissection-Based Protocol for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of the Proteomic Profile of Neuromelanin Granules

Published on: December 16, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
12:37

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model

Published on: September 7, 2013

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
06:08

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro

Published on: March 6, 2019

Laser Microdissection-Based Protocol for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of the Proteomic Profile of Neuromelanin Granules
07:35

Laser Microdissection-Based Protocol for the LC-MS/MS Analysis of the Proteomic Profile of Neuromelanin Granules

Published on: December 16, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Comparative Physiology

Background:

  • Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus with widespread projections throughout the vertebrate central nervous system.
  • While its role in color change is specific to fish, MCH and related peptides in mammals modulate central nervous system functions, including behavior and sensory processing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the diverse functions of MCH beyond its known role in fish coloration.
  • To investigate the role of the MCH system in response to various physiological and environmental stimuli in mammals.
  • To emphasize the need for further research in lower vertebrates to understand the evolutionary conservation of MCH functions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent hybridization studies in mammals examining MCH system responses.
  • Analysis of MCH peptide precursor functions in the central nervous system.
  • Comparative analysis of MCH roles across vertebrate species.

Main Results:

  • Mammalian studies reveal MCH system involvement in responses to osmotic challenges, lactation, stress, and corticosteroid level changes.
  • Evidence suggests MCH participates in modulating behavior and sensory information perception in the central nervous system.
  • The structural conservation of MCH across vertebrates points to fundamental physiological roles.

Conclusions:

  • The MCH system plays a significant role in the central nervous system, influencing behavior and sensory perception.
  • Environmental factors and physiological states dynamically regulate the MCH system.
  • Further investigation in lower vertebrates is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of MCH's evolutionarily conserved functions.