biostudies-literatureFujita AHHS | NIH | National Institute of Mental HealthHHS | NIH | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNIDDK NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNIH HHS9539-9560https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8612477biostudies-literatureUnknown41(46)The lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) is a highly conserved brain region critical for maintaining physiological homeostasis and goal-directed behavior. LHA neurons that express melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are key regulators of arousal, energy balance, and motivated behavior. However, cellular and functional diversity among LHA^MCH neurons is not well understood. Previous anatomic and molecular data suggest that LHA^MCH neurons may be parsed into at least two distinct subpopulations, one of which is enriched in neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R), the receptor for neurokinin B (NKB), encoded by the <i>Tac2</i> gene. This tachykininergic ligand-receptor system has been implicated in reproduction, fear memory, and stress in other brain regions, but NKB interactions with LHAThe Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for NeuroscienceNeurokinin B-Expressing Neurons of the Central Extended Amygdala Mediate Inhibitory Synaptic Input onto Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neuron Subpopulations.PMC8612477R01 DK118402R01 MH112739R01DK118402R01MH112739S10 OD016435Antony MSKanoski SEFlynn WFFujita AMickelsen LEJackson ACZhong LChamiec-Case EfalseNeurokinin B-Expressing Neurons of the Central Extended Amygdala Mediate Inhibitory Synaptic Input onto Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neuron Subpopulations.The lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) is a highly conserved brain region critical for maintaining physiological homeostasis and goal-directed behavior. LHA neurons that express melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are key regulators of arousal, energy balance, and motivated behavior. However, cellular and functional diversity among LHA^MCH neurons is not well understood. Previous anatomic and molecular data suggest that LHA^MCH neurons may be parsed into at least two distinct subpopulations, one of which is enriched in neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R), the receptor for neurokinin B (NKB), encoded by the <i>Tac2</i> gene. This tachykininergic ligand-receptor system has been implicated in reproduction, fear memory, and stress in other brain regions, but NKB interactions with LHA2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Nov2025-04-04T19:31:51.072Z2025-02-19T02:58:13.483ZS-EPMC86124773464221210.1523/jneurosci.2600-20.202110.1523/JNEUROSCI.2600-20.2021