title: The developmental pattern of in vitro rat liver melatonin degrading activity.
abstract: The developmental pattern of the in vitro rat liver melatonin degrading activity was studied. Livers from rats 3, 12, 16, 21, 30 and 90 days old were incubated with [3H] melatonin. A high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was used to determine the appearance of melatonin metabolic product--6-hydroxymelatonin--in the liver extract. Catabolic activity belong very low at age 3 days, increased rapidly with age and reached maximum activity between the ages 21 to 30 days.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin