ON A POSSIBLE ROLE OF<i>β</i>-MELANOCYTE STIMULATING HORMONE (<i>β</i>-MSH) IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE MAMMALIA: AN EFFECT OF<i>β</i>-MSH IN THE SPINAL CORD OF THE CAT¹

Abstract

Intravenous administration of 0.25-2 μg/kg. body weight of highly purified β-MSH increases for long periods of time the amplitude of evoked monosynaptic potentials in the spinal cord of the cat. This is observed in midcollicular decerebrate or barbiturate anesthetized animals. These observations may be a clue to a possible role of β-MSH in the Mammalia as a neurohumor acting in the central nervous system.