Response to novelty after i.c.v. injection of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in rats

M MONZON,; RUBIALES DE BARIOGLIO, SUSANA ELIZABETH

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 1999 vol. 67 p. 813 - 813

ome behavioral response of rats to spatial novelty after i.c.v. administration of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) were evaluated. To this purpose, an open-field test was used, as well as an elevated plus-maze to study the possible anxiolytic effect of this peptide. In the open field, the frequency of exploratory components (locomotion and rearing) increased after MCH administration in comparison to controls. Moreover, in the plus-maze, MCH increased the number of entries into the open arms as well as the time spent on them, whereas no changes in the number of entries onto the closed arms were found. The data indicate that MCH exerts an anxiolytic effect, and suggests a physiological role for this.