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Adrenocorticotropin/α‐Melanocyte‐Stimulating Hormone (ACTH/MSH)‐Like Peptides Modulate Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Brain Slices: Evidence for an ACTH/MSH Receptor‐Coupled Mechanism
Author(s) -
Florijn Wouter J.,
Mulder Arie H.,
Versteeg Dirk H. G.,
Gispen Willem Hendrik
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1993.tb03506.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cyclase , endocrinology , adenylate kinase , forskolin , melanocyte stimulating hormone , adrenocorticotropic hormone , receptor , chemistry , dopaminergic , acth receptor , hormone , biology , dopamine
The regulation of adenylate cyclase activity by adrenocorticotropin/α‐melanocyte–stimulating hormone (ACTH/MSH)‐like peptides was investigated in rat brain slices using a superfusion method. Adenylate cyclase activity was concentration‐dependently increased by ACTH‐(1–24), α‐MSH (EC 50 values 16 and 6 n M , respectively), and [Nle 4 ,D‐Phe 7 ]α‐MSH (EC 50 value 1.6 n M ), in the presence of forskolin (1 μ M , optimal concentration). 1‐9‐Dideoxy‐forskolin did not augment the response of adenylate cyclase to ACTH‐(1–24). Various peptide fragments were tested for their ability to enhance [ 3 H]cyclic AMP production. [Nle 4 ,D‐Phe 7 ]α‐MSH increased [ 3 H]cyclic AMP formation with a maximal effect of 30% and was more potent than ACTH‐(1–24), ACTH‐(1–16)‐NH 2 , α‐MSH, ACTH‐(1–13)‐NH 2 , [MetO 4 ]α‐MSH, [MetO 2 4 ,D‐Lys 8 ,Phe 9 ]ACTH‐(4–9), ACTH‐(7–16)‐NH 2 , ACTH‐(1–10), and ACTH‐(11–24), in order of potency. This structure–activity relationship resembles that found for the previously described peptide‐induced display of excessive grooming. ACTH‐(1–24) stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in both striatal (maximal effect, ˜20%) and septal slices (maximal effect, ˜40%), but not in hippocampal or cortical slices. Lesioning of the dopaminergic projections to the striatum did not result in a diminished effect of [Nle 4 ,D‐Phe 7 ]α‐MSH on [ 3 H]cyclic AMP accumulation, which indicates that the ACTH/MSH receptor–stimulated adenylate cyclase is not located on striatal dopaminergic terminals. ACTH‐(1–24) did not affect the dopamine D 1 or D 2 receptor–mediated modulation of adenylate cyclase activity. Based on the present data, we suggest that the binding of endogenous ACTH or α‐MSH to a putative ACTH/MSH receptor in certain brain regions leads to the activation of a signal transduction pathway using cyclic AMP as a second messenger.