Modulatory role of acetylcholine in the rat pineal gland.
The function of acetylcholine (ACh) in the mammalian pineal gland is unknown. To test the hypothesis that ACh exerts a modulatory role in this organ, in the present study electrophysiogical multiunit recordings were carried out in ex-vivo rat pineal glands superfused with different drugs. It was found that ACh (10(-7) M) as well as the cholinergic agonists oxotremorine (10(-7) M) and nicotine (10(-6) M) increased the discharge rates of most of the spontaneously active units and led to burst activity in previously regularly firing cells. It is concluded that ACh may play a modulatory role in the pineal by influencing the firing of a special population of pineal cells with perhaps receptor function.
Institute of Anatomy, University of Mainz, Germany.
J
J
Schenda
L
L
Vollrath
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010095:Oxotremorine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010477:Perfusion; D010507:Periodicity; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D010095:Oxotremorine; D009538:Nicotine; D000109:Acetylcholine