Fig. 4.

Blockade of central oxytocin receptors does not affect α-MSH-induced increase in MAP. Rats were pretreated icv with either vehicle or the oxytocin receptor antagonist OVT (10 μg) before central injection with either saline vehicle or a 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 nmole α-MSH. Blockade of oxytocin receptors did not abrogate the effect of α-MSH on mean arterial pressure. Data are presented as changes in mean arterial pressure compared with preinjection baseline and area under the curve. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. Saline/Saline-injected control animals. No significant difference (N.S.) was observed between Saline/α-MSH- and OVT/α-MSH-treated rats.