Stimulation of rat pineal melatonin biosynthesis by N-acetylserotonin.
Rat pineal content of melatonin and related indoles (HPLC-fluorimetric procedure) was evaluated after injections of N-acetylserotonin, the immediate precursor of melatonin. The increase of melatonin and NAS but of no other indoles was observed after daytime (but not after nighttime) NAS administration. NAS-induced stimulation of melatonin biosynthesis was dose- and time-dependent. Maximum pineal melatonin levels after NAS injections were similar to physiological night time peak of melatonin levels. It is suggested that NAS-induced stimulation of pineal melatonin biosynthesis might be used as the physiological way of pineal gland stimulation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Oxenkrug
G F
GF
Department of Psychiatry, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA 02135.
Requintina
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D012701:Serotonin; D008550:Melatonin; C006389:N-acetylserotonin