title: Behavioral effects of alpha-MSH and MCH after central administration in the female rat.
abstract: The behavioral effects of alpha-MSH, MCH, and alpha-MSH + MCH were investigated in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) (bilateral, 100 ng in 0.5 microliter). Infusion of alpha-MSH into the VMN increased aggressive behavior; in the MPOA it reduced exploration and increased anxiety. In both areas it stimulated sexual behavior. MCH also stimulated sexual behavior in the MPOA and VMN and had an anxiogenic effect in the MPOA. The effect of alpha-MSH on aggression and exploration was antagonized by MCH. When given together, the two peptides were mutually antagonistic on anxiety. This study indicates that MCH has central nervous system effects and may be a partial alpha-MSH agonist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D008543:Melanins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D000521:alpha-MSH; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone