title: The actions of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) on passive avoidance in rats: a preliminary study.
abstract: Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a hepadecapeptide hormone that is synthesized in the CNS and is responsible for melanosome aggregation in the teleost fish. Recent evidence suggests that this peptide hormone has a unique distribution in the mammalian brain, which leads to the speculation that it may serve as a neuromodulator. The present study was undertaken to explore the comparative effects of MCH to those of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating Hormone (MSH) (a neuropeptide that is known to influence learning) on the rate of extinction of a passive avoidance response in rats. Both MCH and MSH were administered SC at 10 micrograms per animal. Treatment with MCH appeared to hasten, whereas treatment with MSH appeared to delay, extinction of the passive avoidance response.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks 58202.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Beckwith
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Hruby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008547:Melanophores; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone