Stress-induced hypokinesia is facilitated by ACTH-(7-10).

Abstract

Subcutaneous treatment with the neuropeptide ACTH-(4-10) induced hypokinesia in rats subjected to a mild stress induced by placing the animals on a non-functional "hot" plate (21 degrees C) for 30 sec, but not in control animals not exposed to this stress-inducing environment. The lowest effective dose of ACTH-(4-10) was 5 micrograms/kg, administered 50 min before testing. The combination of peptide treatment and the mild stress-inducing procedure mimicked the effect of a short intense stress induced by placing the rats on a hot plate (57 degrees C) for 30 sec, suggesting that this stress-induced hypokinesia is mediated by ACTH neuropeptides. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the active core for the ACTH-(4-10)-induced hypokinesia is located in the C-terminal tetrapeptide Phe-Arg-Try-Gly (ACTH-(7-10)). Pretreatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone did not influence the effect of ACTH-(4-10) indicating that activation of opioid systems is not implicated in this behavioral effect of the peptide.

• Authors: G Wolterink, J M Van Ree
• Journal: Peptides (Peptides) 1988 Mar-Apr Vol. 9 Issue 2 Pg. 277-82 ISSN: 0196-9781 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2836824 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Peptide Fragments
• ACTH (7-10)
• Naltrexone
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Topics

• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Male
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Naltrexone (pharmacology)
• Peptide Fragments (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Reference Values
• Stress, Psychological (physiopathology)
• Structure-Activity Relationship