title: The NMDA antagonist MK-801 blocks light effect on melatonin receptor density in rat suprachiasmatic nuclei.
abstract: In pinealectomized rats, melatonin receptor density in the suprachiasmatic nuclei was recently shown to be strongly decreased during the dark period. Furthermore, a one-hour long light pulse is able to reverse this dark-induced decrease. We demonstrate here that this effect of a light-pulse during night time is blocked by prior application of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. These results show that the light effect on melatonin receptor density in the SCN is mediated by activation of NMDA-type receptors.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiologie des Fonctions Rythmiques et Saisonnières', URA-CNRS 1332, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gauer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masson-Pévet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pévet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D008550:Melatonin