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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Eye Removal in Living Zebrafish Larvae to Examine Innervation-dependent Growth and Development of the Visual System
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The tectal melanocortin system modulates energy-dependent visual avoidance behavior in zebrafish.

Madhuri Puvvada1, Tim Hladnik2, Yue Zhang2

  • 1Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Iscience
|June 3, 2026
PubMed
Summary

The brain

Keywords:
biological sciences

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Energy homeostasis relies on balancing energy intake and expenditure.
  • The hypothalamic melanocortin system is known for regulating feeding behavior.
  • Broader behavioral roles of this system are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the hypothalamic melanocortin system in behaviors beyond feeding.
  • To explore the function of pro-opiomelanocortin (pomca) and melanocortin receptor 4 (Mc4r) in larval zebrafish behavior.
  • To determine how internal energy state influences behavioral energy expenditure decisions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized larval zebrafish as a model organism.
  • Investigated neural projections from hypothalamic pomca neurons to the tectum.
  • Examined the role of Mc4r signaling in visually guided avoidance behaviors.
  • Compared behavior in sated versus hungry larvae.
  • Disrupted Mc4r signaling to assess its impact on behavior.

Main Results:

  • Hypothalamic pomca neurons target Mc4r-expressing neurons in the tectum.
  • Melanocortin signaling modulates visually guided avoidance of small stimuli, not prey consumption.
  • Sated larvae exhibit increased avoidance of small objects compared to hungry larvae.
  • Disruption of Mc4r signaling in sated larvae reduces avoidance behavior.
  • The melanocortin system's function is dependent on the organism's energy reserves.

Conclusions:

  • Hypothalamic melanocortin signaling regulates energy expenditure through sensorimotor tuning.
  • This system modulates avoidance behavior based on internal energy state, not feeding.
  • Uncovers a novel role for melanocortins in behavioral energy allocation decisions.