Melanin-concentrating hormone has been characterized as a REMS-promoting neurotransmitter.
The sublaterodorsal nucleus has been proposed to induce and maintain REMS in the rat.
Unilateral microinjection of melanin-concentrating hormone into the sublaterodorsal nucleus reduced REMS.
The effect would be related to the direct inhibition of glutamatergic neurons of the sublaterodorsal nucleus.