Evidence That N-Acetylation Regulates the Behavioral Activity of α-MSH in the Rat and Human Central Nervous System
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1981
Description
α-MSH immunoreactive peptides were fractionated and characterized in rat and human brain and rat pituitary by reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatographic techniques. α-MSH and deacetylated α-MSH were two major naturally existing peptides in both brain and pituitary gland. Subsequent experiments examined the roles of these two peptides in neuronal function. The α-MSH was clearly more effective than deacetylated α-MSH in improving performance on a visual discrimination task after intraperitoneal administration and in inducing excessive grooming after intraventricular administration. The difference in behavioral potency may be explained by the fact that α-MSH was much more resistant to peptidase degradation than was deacetylated α-MSH. N-acetylation of α-MSH may be an effective regulatory process for modulating the behavioral potency of the secretory product of α-MSH-containing pituitary cells and neurons.
Citation Information
O'Donohue, Thomas L.; Handelmann, Gail E.; Chaconas, Ted; Miller, Russell L.; and Jacobowitz, David M.. 1981. Evidence That N-Acetylation Regulates the Behavioral Activity of α-MSH in the Rat and Human Central Nervous System. Peptides. Vol.2(3). 333-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-9781(81)80126-X PMID: 7301640 ISSN: 0196-9781