Effects of serotonin depleters on the contents of beta-endorphin, alpha-melanotropin and adrenocorticotropin in rat brain and pituitary.
Serotonin depleters, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) and p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), were injected into adult male rats and beta-endorphin (beta-EP), alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels in rat brain and pituitary were each estimated by radioimmunoassay combined with a gel column chromatography. (1) 5,7-DHT, injected intracerebroventricularly combined with pargyline, decreased the levels of immunoreactive-beta-EP, -alpha-MSH and -ACTH significantly and concomitantly in hypothalamus, thalamus, and brainstem. (2) PCPA, repeatedly injected intraperitoneally 8 times every 3 days, decreased the levels of these peptides in some of these brain regions. (3) There was no significant change of IR-beta-EP, -alpha-MSH, -ACTH in the anterior and the intermediate-posterior pituitaries after the treatment of 5,7-DHT or PCPA. (4) A single injection of the same dose of PCPA induced no significant effects on these peptide levels in both brain and pituitary. These data suggest that central serotoninergic neurons might affect beta-EP-alpha-MSH-ACTH containing neurons in rat brain.
D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004102:Dihydroxytryptamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000032:analysis*; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D001615:beta-Endorphin
D004102:Dihydroxytryptamines; D004723:Endorphins; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D010134:Fenclonine