title: Neuramide stimulates adrenocorticotropin but not prolactin release from rat pituitary.
abstract: Neuramide (NMD), a substance found in crude preparations of porcine stomach extract, is a viral inhibitor that also has putative immunostimulatory effects. The effects of NMD on stress-hormone (ACTH and prolactin-PRL) release were assessed in in vivo and in vitro studies. In the former, blood levels of corticosterone and PRL were measured in NMD-treated male rats. In vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of NMD and three of its fractions (obtained with high performance liquid chromatography) on ACTH and PRL release from perfused rat pituitary slices. NMD increased plasma corticosterone levels in vivo and produced dose-dependent increases in in vitro pituitary release of ACTH. No effects on PRL secretion were observed in vivo or in vitro. The stimulatory effects on ACTH release were caused by the NMD fraction with a molecular weight of > 5000 < 10000 Da.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Catholic University, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ragazzoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Folchitto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vacca
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010455:Peptides; C039202:neuramide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin