title: Alpha-MSH decreases core and brain temperature during global cerebral ischemia in rats.
abstract: A key pathological event during cerebral ischemia is the excitotoxic release of glutamate. We have shown previously that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) enhances the hypothermia induced by kainic acid. We have investigated the effects of systemic administration of alpha-MSH on four-vessel occlusion forebrain ischemia on core temperature (CT) and brain temperature (BT), respectively. After 10 min cerebral ischemia, BT was lower in alpha-MSH- than in saline-injected animals. After 10 min reperfusion, both CT and BT were lower than the corresponding pre-ischemic levels after injection of alpha-MSH. alpha-MSH did not influence CT or BT in sham-operated rats. The alpha-MSH-induced hypothermia and its potentiation of reduction in BT during global cerebral ischemia, may contribute to neuroprotective effects of alpha-MSH.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Geriatrics, Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, 4th floor, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Stefan.Spulber@neurotec.ki.se
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spulber
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oprica
authors.forename: Asa Forslin
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Aronsson
authors.forename: Claes
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winblad
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schultzberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH