title: Clonidine lowers alpha-MSH-like immunoreactivity in human plasma.
abstract: In a group of seven healthy subjects, the effects of acute intravenous administration of clonidine, a selective alpha 2 receptor stimulator, on plasma alpha-MSH-LI concentrations were measured. In comparison with saline, clonidine (0.075 mg) significantly reduced alpha-MSH-LI concentrations, with a maximum fall between 30 and 60 min., followed by a return to basal concentrations at 120 min.; no significant variations in plasma ACTH and cortisol were seen. The precise mechanism of this effect is unclear. Our study suggests that separate regulatory mechanisms exist for the secretion of POMC related peptides in the corticotroph and melanotroph cells of the human pituitary gland.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limone
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rainero
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Gennaro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ambrogio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fulgido
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinessi
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Molinatti
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D006854:Hydrocortisone