Effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide and its fragments on brain monoamines and plasma corticosterone

The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of an 80 pmole dose of cholecystokinin octapeptide sulphate ester, unsulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide and their fragments were tested on the dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin contents of the rat hypothalamus, mesencephalon, amygdala, septum, cerebral cortex and striatum, as well as on the plasma corticosterone level.Cholecystokinin octapeptide sulphate ester and the tyrosine-sulphate-methionine and tyrosine-sulphate-methionine-glycine fragments increased the dopamine and norepinephrine contents of the hypothalamus and mesencephalon. The same compounds increased the dopamine content of the amygdala, while they decreased the dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in the striatum. The plasma corticosterone level was also increased. The unsulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide and its fragments had no effects on the brain monoamine contents and slight but not significant effect on the plasma corticosterone level.The data suggest that the presence of the tyrosine-sulphate-methionine dipeptide is essential in the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide sulphate ester on the monoamine contents of different brain areas, as well as on the plasma corticosterone level.