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γ‐MSH increases intracellular cAMP accumulation and GnRH release in vitro and LH release in vivo
Author(s) -
Stanley S.A.,
Davies S.,
Small C.J.,
Gardiner J.V.,
Ghatei M.A.,
Smith D.M.,
Bloom S.R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00402-2
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , agonist , melanocortin , intracellular , gonadotropin releasing hormone , in vivo , melanocyte stimulating hormone , receptor , chemistry , secretion , hormone , biology , luteinizing hormone , microbiology and biotechnology
The roles of the melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3‐R) and its agonist, γ 2 ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (γ 2 ‐MSH) in the regulation of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐gonadal (HPG) axis are poorly understood. Here we show γ 2 ‐MSH stimulated intracellular cAMP accumulation and gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the immortalised GnRH cell line GT 1 ‐7. The MC3/4‐R antagonist Agrp blocked these actions. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction demonstrated GT 1 ‐7 cells express MC3‐R mRNA. γ 2 ‐MSH also stimulated GnRH release from hypothalamic explants. In vivo, γ 2 ‐MSH administration into the medial preoptic area significantly increased plasma luteinising hormone. MC3‐R and γ 2 ‐MSH may modulate the HPG axis.