Chronic treatment with ACTH1-24 does not produce permanent damage to the developing rat brain

Permanent effects of ACTH1-24 on the developing rat brain were investigated. Rats were injected with 20 IU/kg of ACTH1-24 daily for 4 weeks starting at two days of age. Brain weight, protein, DNA and RNA contents, contents of monoamines and their metabolites, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase and glutamic acid decarboxylase activities were measured at 24 h and 8 weeks after the last injection. There were no significant changes in these indicators compared to saline-injected controls. These results suggest that chronic treatment with ACTH1-24 does not permanently damage the developing rat brain.