The effect of cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) on the activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis.
OBJECTIVE
It has been reported that the cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is widely expressed in the hypothalamic nuclei involved in the mechanism of hormonal secretion.


METHODS
In order to evaluate the effect of CART on the activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis in the rat, CART (55-102) in a dose of 0.5 microg in 5 microl CSF was infused into the third ventricle (icv) with an automatic pump. At 10, 30, 60, 120 min after the infusion of CART or vehicle, the animals were decapitated and the trunk blood was collected. Serum ACTH and corticosterone concentrations were measured with RIA kits provided by Phoenix Pharmaceuticals and ICN Biomedicals USA, respectively.


RESULTS
The stimulating effect of CART on ACTH concentration was observed only 30 min after icv injection. However, CART stimulated corticosterone release at 10, 30, 60 min after icv injection.


CONCLUSIONS
CART (55-102) administered intracerebroventricularly (icv) stimulated ACTH and corticosterone release. The stimulating effect of CART on ACTH was short-lived.
Baranowska
Boguslawa
B
Department of Neuroendocrinology, Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Marymoncka 99, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland. zncmkp@op.pl
Wolinska-Witort
Ewa
E
Bik
Wojciech
W
Baranowska-Bik
Agnieszka
A
Martynska
Lidia
L
Chmielowska
Magdalena
M
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone