Abstract
This study was carried out to explore whether the postulated interaction between α-MSH and dopamine (DA) could be explained on the basis of variations in tissular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. We used slices containing caudate putamen and accumbens nuclei incubated in the presence of α-MSH, DA, or both simultaneously. Exposure of slices to α-MSH or DA resulted in an increase in cAMP levels. The simultaneous presence of α-MSH and DA resulted in a reduction in the accumulation of the cyclic nucleotide in the tissues as compared with those treated only with DA or α-MSH. The effect of α-MSH and DA on cAMP efflux was also tested. Incubation of slices with DA led to a marked increase in cAMP efflux; this efflux could be prevented if α-MSH was present in the medium. The results suggest that the inhibition by α-MSH of DA-induced striatal cAMP accumulation and efflux are a consequence of an interaction between the peptide and the neurotransmitter; DA and α-MSH transducing mechanisms could be biochemically linked.
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