title: Effect of a light pulse on melatonin receptor density and mRNA expression in Siberian hamster suprachiasmatic nuclei.
abstract: Melatonin receptors located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) have been cloned in mammals hypothalamus. We previously reported a SCN melatonin receptor photic regulation in the rat. The present study's aim was to investigate whether a photic regulation of both melatonin receptor density and mRNA expression takes place in the SCN of a highly photoperiodic species, the Siberian hamster. To achieve this goal, we first set up an in situ hybridization protocol without RNase treatment to allow a highly sensitive and reproducible quantitative analysis of melatonin receptor mRNA expression. Results showed that a 1 h light pulse delivered during night-time did not affect SCN melatonin binding capacities while it induced a strong increase of the melatonin receptor mRNA expression in the SCN of pinealectomized animals.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiologie des Fonctions Rythmiques et Saisonnières, URA-CNRS 1332, Strasbourg, France. gauer@neurochem-u-strasbg.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gauer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pévet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masson-Pévet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008550:Melatonin