title: ACTH 4-10: a study of toxicological and behavioral effects in an aging sample.
abstract: Placebo and ACTH 4-10 (in ascending dosages from 15 to 60 mg) were administered subcutaneously to normal aging subjects (mean, 65.6 years). Measurements were obtained for EEG, EKG, SMA-12, urine, and blood pressure. Behavioral tasks measuring reaction time (RT), short-term memory, perceptual speed, and motor speed were administered. There were no pre- to post-injection changes in SMA-12, urine, EEG, and EKG. There was an improvement in RT time that was dose related. These data indicate that ACTH 4-10 is (1) safe to administer to an aging population and (2) combined with data on young adults suggest that it may act on the attentional/arousal processes. Results suggest that ACTH 4-10 may have stimulant-like properties on behavior without effecting the CNS and cardiovascular system.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D000368:Aged; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001244:Association / Q000187:drug effects; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone