Interaction between α-MSH and gabaergic agents upon striatal cAMP levels:: An in vitro model

We have tried to investigate the possible interaction between the gabaergic system and alpha-MSH at a cellular level in an in vitro model of male albino rats tissue slices containing accumbens and caudate-putamen nuclei. alpha-MSH alone increases cAMP levels, as does diazepam and phaclofen; however, these effects were blocked by SCH-23390. Both flumazenil and baclofen induced a decrease in the cAMP content. When both alpha-MSH and gabaergic agents were incubated together, cAMP levels were modified. It can be assumed that cAMP production by the neuropeptide and the gabaergic agents could be linked to the activation of dopaminergic D1 receptors. The latter receptors had no prominent effect on the interaction between alpha-MSH and the GABA agonists and antagonists. In summary, our results suggested that alpha-MSH and GABA system could be biochemically linked to produce a cellular effect. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.