title: Diurnal variation in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone content of various brain regions and plasma of the Texas toad, Bufo speciosus.
abstract: We measured the concentrations of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in various brain regions as well as in the pituitary gland and plasma of the toad Bufo speciosus during a 24-hr light:dark cycle. There was significant diurnal variation of alpha-MSH concentrations in the hypothalamus and brainstem. In both areas alpha-MSH concentrations were highest during the scotophase. Peak alpha-MSH concentrations in the hypothalamus were observed at 21.00 and 05.00 hr, while a single peak in alpha-MSH concentrations was observed in the brainstem at 21.00 hr. In contrast, peak alpha-MSH concentrations in the plasma were observed during the photophase at 17.00 hr, when brain concentrations of alpha-MSH were low. There was no significant diurnal variation observed in the pituitary content of alpha-MSH throughout the 24-hr light:dark cycle. These data suggest that different mechanisms control hypothalamic and pituitary alpha-MSH cells in the toad during the 24-hr light:dark cycle. The fact that peak alpha-MSH concentrations were observed in the hypothalamus during the activity period of the toad is consistent with the proposed role of alpha-MSH peptides in learning and memory processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409-3131, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gregg
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shahnaz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH