Melatonin binding to the anteroventral and anterodorsal thalamic nuclei in the rat.
Pineal melatonin is a putative humoral coordinator of various circadian body rhythms. Rather few loci in the brain contain such a density of melatonin receptors that specific binding can be demonstrated by autoradiography. In this study we measured, using in vitro receptor autoradiography, displaceable binding of iodo-melatonin to the anteroventral and anterodorsal thalamic nuclei of Wistar rats (0.6-1.4 fmol/mg protein at 100 pM ligand concentration). These nuclei of the limbic system have direct connections with the retina and they participate in learning and memory functions.
Lindroos
O F
OF
Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Leinonen
L M
LM
Laakso
M L
ML
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism*
D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D008550:Melatonin