title: Pharmacological evidence for the involvement of endogenous alpha-MSH-like peptides in peripheral nerve regeneration.
abstract: The possible involvement of alpha-MSH-like peptides in the regenerative response of peripheral nerves was investigated with a competitive antagonist of alpha-MSH, the synthetic hexapeptide [D-Trp7,Ala8,D-Phe10)alpha-MSH(6-11)-amide. Subcutaneous administration of the alpha-MSH antagonist during the first 10 days following sciatic nerve crush significantly decreased functional recovery as measured by the foot flick withdrawal test and the walking pattern analysis. Hypophysectomy delayed both the initial sprouting response and the outgrowth rate after major caudal nerve crush. When hypophysectomized rats were treated with the alpha-MSH antagonist, a further delay in initial sprouting was observed, whereas the outgrowth rate of nerve fibers was not affected. These results suggest that 1) endogenous alpha-MSH-like peptides stimulate nerve outgrowth following peripheral nerve injury and 2) alpha-MSH-like peptides derived from a source other than the pituitary may contribute to the physiological stimulus leading to sprouting.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Plantinga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhaagen
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hali
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brakkee
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gispen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013623:Tail / Q000294:innervation; D013997:Time Factors; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C094042:alpha-MSH (6-11)-amide, Trp(7)-Ala(8)-Phe(10)-; D000521:alpha-MSH