title: Effects of alpha-MSH and melatonin on passive avoidance and on PA-induced defecation and plasma 11-OHCS in hypophysectomized rats.
abstract: The present study shows tha alpha-MSH facilitates the acquisition and delays the extinction of a Passive Avoidance Response (PAR) in the hypox animals. MSH exacerbates PA-induced defecation in both hypox and sham-hypox animals. Hypox and sham-hypox animals treated with MSH do not differ on PAR or on PA-induced defecation. Melatonin, on the other hand, has no significant effect on PAR in hypox rats, but retards acquisition and facilitates extinction of the PAR in sham-hypox rats. Melatonin also inhibits PA-induced defecation in sham-hypox rats. Sham-hypox and hypox rats treated with Melatonin do not differ on PAR learning, retention (Extinction) and PA-induced defecation. MSH and Melatonin also seem to have opposite effects on plasma 11-OHCS levels measured at the end of PAR extinction. MSH increases plasma 11-OHCS in hypox rats, whereas Melatonin decreases plasma 11-OHCS in sham-hypox rats. Melatonin does not lower further the very low level of plasma 11-OHCS in hypox rats.
mesh_terms: D015062:11-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015062:11-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D008550:Melatonin