Antipyretic effect of central alpha-MSH summates with that of acetaminophen or ibuprofen

The neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone has potent antipyretic properties when given centrally or systemically. Little is known about the mechanism of the antipyretic action and virtually nothing is known about interactions among the antipyretic effects of alpha-MSH and commonly used antipyretic agents. Randomized studies in which alpha-MSH, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or a combination of alpha-MSH and antipyretic drug, were given IV to rabbits made febrile by endogenous pyrogen, indicate that the antipyretic effect of the peptide is summative with those of the drugs. alpha-MSH has been shown to have a wide safety margin in earlier research and the results suggest that combinations of peptide and antipyretic drugs might be safer and have fewer side effects than larger quantities of the drugs alone.