The facilitative effects of alpha-MSH and melanin on learning, thermoregulation, and pain in neonatal MSG-treated rats. |
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| Authors: | S Yehuda R L Carasso D I Mostofsky |
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| Institution: | Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. |
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| Abstract: | Administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the neonatal period renders the rat to be alpha-MSH deficient later in life. In this study rats received MSG in their neonatal period and were examined at the age of 60 days. alpha-MSH caused hypothermia, potentiated induced hypothermia, blocked paradoxical behavioral thermoregulation, improved performance in the Morris water tank, but had no effect on pain threshold. Melanin only caused an increase in pain threshold. It is suggested that the differential effect of alpha-MSH and melanin is governed by the dopaminergic system. |
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