Melanin-concentrating hormone inhibits PVN oxytocin neurons through barium-sensitive inwardly rectifying potassium channels and MCH-neuron ablation alters pup-directed aggression

Interactions between melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons and oxytocin neurons are crucial for parental care. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that MCH inhibits paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN)-oxytocin neurons through activation of barium-sensitive inwardly rectifying potassium channels, potentially G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels, and pup-directed aggression was positively related to loss of MCH neurons. Our findings offer a glimpse into the neural mechanisms underlying the evolutionary regulation of offspring caregiving and abuse in males.

This work was partially supported by Division of Advanced Research Promotion, Aichi Medical University. This work was supported, in part, by grants-in-aid for scientific research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture [23K05858 (2023–2026)] (C.O.). Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Laboratory of Psychology & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Tingbi Xiong, Kazuo Yamada & Chitose Orikasa Department of Pharmacology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan Department of Physiology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan The authors declare no competing interests.

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To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Xiong, T., Saitow, F., Inutsuka, A. et al. Melanin-concentrating hormone inhibits PVN oxytocin neurons through barium-sensitive inwardly rectifying potassium channels and MCH-neuron ablation alters pup-directed aggression.

Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-75712-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-75712-9