ALPHA MELANOCYTE STIMULATING HORMONE (α-MSH) DOES NOT MODIFY PENTYLENETETRAZOLE- AND PILOCARPINE-INDUCED SEIZURES

ROSSATTO TEMP FERNANDA; CARRÉ SANTOS ALINE; RIGHES MARAFIGA JOSEANE; JESSE ANA CLAUDIA; FERNANDES LENZ QUÉLI; MARQUESAN OLIVEIRA SARA; PETRI GUERRA GUSTAVO; SCIMONELLI T; MELLO CARLOS FERNANDO

LIFE SCIENCES

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 93 p. 723 - 731

0024-3205

Aims: Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptide 23involved in different neurological functions that also exerts anti-inflammatory effects, including in the central 24nervous system (CNS). Although inflammation has been implicated in seizures and epilepsy, no study has 25systematically investigated whether α-MSH modifies seizures. Therefore, in the current study we determined 26whether α-MSH alters pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)- and pilocarpine-induced seizures. 27Main methods: Adult male Swiss mice were injected with α-MSH (1.66, 5 or 15 μg/3 μL, intracerebroventricular 28(i.c.v.)) or systemic (0.1, 0.3 or 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)). Five to sixty minutes after the injection of the 29peptide, animals were injected with PTZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) or pilocarpine (370 mg/kg, i.p.). Latency to myoclonic 30jerks and tonic?clonic seizures, number of seizure episodes, total time spent seizing and seizure intensity, 31assessed by the Racine and Meurs scales were recorded. Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the hippocampus 32were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). 33Key findings: Neither intracerebroventricular (1.66, 5 or 15 μg/3 μL, i.c.v.) nor systemic (0.1, 0.3 or 1 mg/kg, i.p.) 34administration of α-MSH altered PTZ- and pilocarpine-induced seizures. IL-1β levels in the hippocampiwere not 35altered by α-MSH, PTZ or pilocarpine. 36Significance: Although inflammation has been implicated in seizures and epilepsy and α-MSH is a potent anti- 37inflammatory peptide, our results do not support a role for α-MSH in seizure control.