Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone reduces endotoxin-induced liver inflammation.

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone reduces endotoxin-induced liver inflammation.

Alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is a potent anti-inflammatory agent in many models of inflammation, suggesting that it inhibits a critical step common to different forms of inflammation. We showed previously that alpha-MSH inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured macro-phages. To determine how alpha-MSH acts in vivo, we induced acute hepatic inflammation by administering end...

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone reduces putative stress-induced sickness behaviors in isolated guinea pig pups.

We have proposed that passive responses observed following maternal separation in guinea pig pups represent "stress-induced sickness behaviors" mediated by proinflammatory processes. In this study, the anti-inflammatory peptide, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) administered intracerebroventricularly, but not intraperitoneally, reduced the passive responses of crouching, eye-clos...

-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Inhibits Allergic Airway Inflammation

Inhibition of endotoxin-induced uveitis and potentiation of cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

PURPOSE The efficacy of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) was investigated in rats. Several studies have demonstrated that there are various inflammatory reactions mediated by an alpha-MSH receptor in macrophages. In addition, as it is known that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is induced by a variety of stimuli and plays an important role in inflammatio...

Y2-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone

Peptides of the pro-opiocortin class produce pronounced cardiovascular and natriuretic actions. We have investigated the acute cardiovascular effects of one of the most potent members of this class, y2-melanocyte stimulating hormone (y2-MSH), in rats. Pressor actions of y2MSH administered systemicaMy were eliminated by ganglionic blockade with chlorisondamine. Peripheral cholinergic blockade fa...