title: Opening of brain potassium-channels inhibits the ACTH-induced behavioral syndrome in the male rat.
abstract: In adult male rats, the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of pinacidil, a potassium channel opener, at the doses of 100, 200 or 300 micrograms/rat, dose-dependently reduced the display of the most typical behavioral symptoms (excessive grooming, stretching, yawning, penile erections) induced by the i.c.v. administration of ACTH-(1-24) (4 micrograms/rat). These data indicate that the complex mechanism of the melanocortin-induced behavioral syndrome involves closure of potassium channels in target neurons, and provide further experimental support to the idea that melanocortins are functional antagonists of opioids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Vergoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandrini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filaferro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006146:Guanidines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects; D020110:Pinacidil; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D003366:Cosyntropin; D020110:Pinacidil; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide