title: [Photoreceptor cells of the pineal body in culture: effect of 17 beta-estradiol on the production of melatonin].
abstract: Pineal photoreceptor cells produce the neurohormone, melatonin, a major "Zeitgeber" of the organism. This compound has been involved in the control of development, growth, sexual maturation, and seasonal reproductive cycles. We investigated, here, the effects of estradiol-17 beta on melatonin production by cultured pineal photoreceptor cells. Under a light/dark (LD: 12/12) cycle, cultured trout pineal cells maintained a rhythmic secretion of melatonin with higher amounts being released during the dark phase. The amplitude of the rhythm tended to increase with time spent in culture. Application of estradiol-17 beta during the dark phase of a LD cycle (i.e., for 12 h) affected melatonin release in a dose-dependent manner: low concentrations (10(-10) to 10(-8) mol/l) were inhibitory whereas high concentrations (over 10(-7) mol/l) were stimulatory. When estradiol-17 beta was applied continuously for several 24 h LD cycles, the inhibitory effect observed during the first dark phase disappeared later on. Rather, in the presence of estradiol-17 beta, at the concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-6) mol/l, a high amplitude rhythm in melatonin secretion was recovered faster, when compared to controls. Replacement of 10% fetal calf serum by 0.1% bovine serum albumin did not affect the responses of the photoreceptor cells to 10(-6) mol/l of estradiol-17 beta. The present results bring the first evidence that estradiol-17 beta modulates melatonin secretion by cultured pineal photoreceptors. They further support the idea according to which sexual hormones exert a feedback regulation on the pineal. Pineal photoreceptors appear as multieffector cells which transduce information from, both, physical (photoperiod) and internal (chemical) factors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et de Neuroendocrinologie Cellulaires, URA CNRS 290, Poitiers, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bégay
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Valotaire
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ravault
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falcón
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000032:analysis*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D014337:Trout
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D008550:Melatonin
vernacular_title: Cellules photoréceptrices de l'organe pinéal en culture: effets du 17 beta-oestradiol sur la production de mélatonine.