title: Activation of MT(2) melatonin receptors in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus phase advances the circadian clock.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the melatonin receptor type(s) (MT(1) or MT(2)) mediating circadian clock resetting by melatonin in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Quantitative receptor autoradiography with 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin and in situ hybridization histochemistry, with either (33)P- or digoxigenin-labeled antisense MT(1) and MT(2) melatonin receptor mRNA oligonucleotide probes, revealed specific expression of both melatonin receptor types in the SCN of inbred Long-Evans rats. The melatonin receptor type mediating phase advances of the circadian rhythm of neuronal firing rate in the SCN slice was assessed using competitive melatonin receptor antagonists, the MT(1)/MT(2) nonselective luzindole and the MT(2)-selective 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetraline (4P-PDOT). Luzindole and 4P-PDOT (1 nM-1 microM) did not affect circadian phase on their own; however, they blocked both the phase advances (approximately 4 h) in the neuronal firing rate induced by melatonin (3 pM) at temporally distinct times of day [i.e., subjective dusk, circadian time (CT) 10; and dawn, CT 23], as well as the associated increases in protein kinase C activity. We conclude that melatonin mediates phase advances of the SCN circadian clock at both dusk and dawn via activation of MT(2) melatonin receptor signaling.
authors: Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. a-hunt1@uiuc.edu
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Hunt
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: Al-Ghoul
authors: M U
authors: MU
authors: Gillette
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Dubocovich
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020320:Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011869:Radioligand Assay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C114459:4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetraline; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D020320:Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D014363:Tryptamines; C057154:luzindole; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D008550:Melatonin