title: Presence of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-like immunoreactivity in the innervation of amphibian skeletal muscle.
abstract: Amphibian motor nerve terminals are sensitive to a wide variety of peptides, including alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). We determined the presence and distribution of alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity (alpha-MSHLI) in the innervation of the cutaneous pectoris muscle from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles and postmetamorphic froglets, and adult frogs (R. catesbeiana and R. pipiens). alpha-MSHLI was found in unmyelinated, noncholinergic axons, in motor axons, and in motor nerve terminals. In motor axons, alpha-MSHLI was predominantly associated with neurofilaments. The distribution of this form of alpha-MSHLI changed during development and seasonally in adult frogs. The possible functional roles of this alpha-MSHLI are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1751.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oren
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Micevych
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Letinsky
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D011894:Rana pipiens; D011898:Ranidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH