EXPLORING THE EXPRESSION OF THE MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE MESSENGER-RNA IN THE RAT LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS AFTER GOLDTHIOGLUCOSE INJECTION

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is expressed in a large neuronal p opulation of the rat lateral hypothalamus. This area is known to be im plicated in the regulation of thirst and hunger and to contain glucose -sensitive cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of goldthioglucose (GTG), a toxic form of glucose, on the expression of the MCH gene in the rat lateral hypothalamus by immunocytochemistry, i n situ hybridization and competitive RT-PCR. We observed that the MCH immunoreactivity and the level of MCH mRNA were not changed after intr aperitoneal GTG injection (0.35 mg/g body weight). These results toget her with previous data suggest that the glucose-sensitive cells of the lateral hypothalamus are different from the MCH neurons and remain to be identified.