title: Melatonin reduces 3H-nitrendipine binding in the heart.
abstract: The effect of melatonin on cardiac and brain voltage-sensitive calcium channels, as measured by 3H-nitrendipine binding, was examined in rats 3 hr after melatonin administration (either 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg given subcutaneously). Scatchard analysis of the data on specific binding of 3H-nitrendipine with crude cardiac membranes from melatonin treated rats revealed significant decreases (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 for the 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg melatonin doses, respectively) in the density of Ca2+ channels without a change in their affinity for the ligand. At doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg of melatonin, Bmax values were 157 and 142 fmoles/mg protein, respectively, compared with a control value of 199 fmoles/mg protein in crude cardiac membranes. In brain, melatonin treatment did not statistically significantly influence either 3H-nitrendipine binding or its affinity when compared with control animals. These results suggest that melatonin modulates the functional status of voltage sensitive calcium channels in the heart, changes that may have implications for normal cardiac physiology and for the pharmacological manipulation of the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: D X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chamber
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Manchester
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poeggeler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D009568:Nitrendipine; D008550:Melatonin