Activity of various CART peptides in changing locomotor activity in the rat.
Several CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) peptides have been identified in the brain. One peptide, rlCART 55-102, has been previously characterized in locomotor and feeding assays in rodents. The present study characterized the locomotor-stimulating effect of several additional CART peptides after intra-VTA administration in rats. The results confirm earlier findings that intra-VTA administration of rlCART 55-102 dose-dependently increased locomotor activity. Intra-VTA administration of rlCART 62-102 increased activity comparable with that produced by rlCART 55-102. However, intra-VTA administration of rsCART 10-89 and rlCART 55-59 did not increase motor activity. These results suggest that the portion of rlCART 55-102 responsible for increasing motor activity must reside within the portion of the protein also encompassed by rlCART 61-102, as the initial 5-amino acid sequence of rlCART 55-102 did not increase motor activity. In summary, rlCART 55-102 and rlCART 62-102 are behaviorally active in this locomotor assay, while rsCART 10-89 and rlCART 55-59 are not.
Kimmel
H L
HL
Division of Neuroscience, Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. hlkimme@emory.edu
Thim
L
L
Kuhar
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein