title: Melanin-concentrating hormone, hippocampal nitric oxide levels and memory retention.
abstract: The present study attempts to determine, if the effect of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) upon memory retention is correlated with changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and tissue levels of nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP. We used a behavioral experiment using a step-down inhibitory avoidance test, the biochemical determinations of NO and cGMP, and electrophysiological model. Results of behavioral studies (step-down test) showed that MCH administration reverts the amnesic effects induced by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOArg). Moreover, electrophysiological studies demonstrated that L-NOArg did not block the potentiation induced by the peptide. Hippocampal NO and cGMP levels increased after MCH injection.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina. mvara@mail.fcq.unc.edu.ar
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varas
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Monzón
authors.forename: Susana Rubiales
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Barioglio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006152:Cyclic GMP