title: Melatonin enhancement of [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid and [3H]muscimol binding in rat brain.
abstract: The pineal hormone, melatonin, enhanced the sodium-independent binding of [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) and [3H]muscimol in the rat cerebral cortex in vitro. This effect was augmented by preincubation of synaptic membranes with melatonin but was abolished by preincubation with Triton X-100. Saturation binding studies using [3H]GABA (2.5 to 1000 nM) indicated that the melatonin-induced enhancement of binding is due to an increase in low-affinity GABAA binding sites. These findings suggest that the central effects of melatonin involve modulation of GABAergic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Coloma
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Niles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005615:Freezing; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009118:Muscimol / Q000378:metabolism*; D017830:Octoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D014316:Tritium; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D014316:Tritium; D009118:Muscimol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D017830:Octoxynol; D008550:Melatonin; D003975:Diazepam