A comparison of the effects of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine on sleep in normal and pinealectomized rats.
S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) was administered to normal and pinealectomized rats previously implanted with electrodes for polygraphic recording. In normal rats, injected at 17.00 h, 7 mg/kg SAH induced a significant increase of paradoxical sleep (PS) during the night. When injected at 09.00 or 19.00 h, no effect was observed. In pinealectomized rats, SAH had no significant effect on PS amounts but seemed to resynchronize the PS rhythm. Thus, the pineal gland plays an important role in SAH effect. The results are discussed with reference to different mechanisms within the rat pineal gland and a possible implication of beta-adrenergic receptors.
D000818:Animals; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012435:S-Adenosylhomocysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*
D006710:Homocysteine; D012435:S-Adenosylhomocysteine