A role for di-acetyl alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the control of cortisol release in the teleost Oreochromis mossambicus.

Abstract

In stressed tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, total alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) levels and di-acetyl alpha-MSH/mono-acetyl alpha-MSH (di:mono) ratios are elevated. We therefore investigated the role of alpha-MSH in the regulation of the pituitary-interrenal axis. The corticotrophic activities of des-acetyl alpha-MSH, mono-acetyl alpha-MSH and di-acetyl alpha-MSH were compared. These forms of alpha-MSH were isolated from neurointermediate lobes and tested in a superfusion experiment with homologous interrenal tissue. The corticotrophic activity of di-acetyl alpha-MSH was the highest, followed by that of des-acetyl alpha-MSH and mono-acetyl alpha-MSH. Apparently, acetylation of alpha-MSH is of functional significance for corticotrophic action. Di-acetyl alpha-MSH proved to be about 100 times less potent than ACTH(1-39): the half-maximal stimulating concentrations for ACTH and di-acetyl alpha-MSH were 0.89 nmol/l and 110 nmol/l respectively. Surprisingly, a superfusate from neurointermediate lobes proved to be only about three times less active than a superfusate from the pituitary pars distalis, in which the corticotrophic activity is attributable to its ACTH content. When selectively stripped of all forms of alpha-MSH by passage through a Sepharose column coated with an antiserum against alpha-MSH, the neuro-intermediate lobe superfusate was devoid of corticotrophic activity. Thus alpha-MSH appears to be the corticotrophic factor in the superfusate of the neurointermediate lobe. After the same treatment, the corticotrophic activity of the pars distalis superfusate was not affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)