title: Suppressive effect of NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 on nocturnal serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity in the rat pineal gland.
abstract: Treatment of rats at night with a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.025-1 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a dose-dependent decrease in the nocturnal activity of the pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the rate limiting enzyme in melatonin biosynthesis. A maximal inhibition (by 67-75%) of the enzyme activity was observed after the drug doses of 0.1 mg/kg in female rats, and 1 mg/kg in male animals. The data suggest that the NMDA receptor-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission is a step necessary for NAT induction (and melatonin biosynthesis) in the mammalian pineal gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biogenic Amines, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lódź, Poland.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zawilska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosiak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Senderecka
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D008550:Melatonin