Abstract
The behavioral effects of alpha-MSH, MCH, and alpha-MSH + MCH were investigated in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) (bilateral, 100 ng in 0.5 microliter). Infusion of alpha-MSH into the VMN increased aggressive behavior; in the MPOA it reduced exploration and increased anxiety. In both areas it stimulated sexual behavior. MCH also stimulated sexual behavior in the MPOA and VMN and had an anxiogenic effect in the MPOA. The effect of alpha-MSH on aggression and exploration was antagonized by MCH. When given together, the two peptides were mutually antagonistic on anxiety. This study indicates that MCH has central nervous system effects and may be a partial alpha-MSH agonist.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Aggression / drug effects
-
Aggression / physiology
-
Animals
-
Anxiety / physiopathology
-
Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
-
Behavior, Animal / physiology
-
Drug Interactions
-
Exploratory Behavior / drug effects
-
Exploratory Behavior / physiology
-
Female
-
Hypothalamic Hormones / administration & dosage*
-
Hypothalamic Hormones / physiology
-
Melanins / administration & dosage*
-
Melanins / physiology
-
Pituitary Hormones / administration & dosage*
-
Pituitary Hormones / physiology
-
Preoptic Area / drug effects
-
Preoptic Area / physiology
-
Rats
-
Rats, Wistar
-
Sexual Behavior, Animal / drug effects
-
Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology
-
Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / drug effects
-
Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / physiology
-
alpha-MSH / administration & dosage*
-
alpha-MSH / agonists
-
alpha-MSH / physiology
Substances
-
Hypothalamic Hormones
-
Melanins
-
Pituitary Hormones
-
alpha-MSH
-
melanin-concentrating hormone