MELATONIN SYNTHESIS IN THE PINEAL GLAND: CONTROL BY LIGHT.
In rats placed in continuous darkness for 6 days, there is a striking increase in the activity of melatonin-synthesizing-enzyme (hydroxyindole-0-methyl transferase) in the pineal gland, but no change in the activity of monoamine oxidase. Since melatonin appears to have a hormonal role in mammals, and its synthesis is confined to the pineal gland, the inhibition of hydroxyindole-O-methyl transferase by light may constitute a mechanism of neuroendocrine regulation.
D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D007211:Indoles; D008027:Light; D008550:Melatonin; D008660:Metabolism; D010870:Pineal Gland; D051381:Rats; D012106:Research; D014166:Transferases
D007211:Indoles; C030374:indole; D014166:Transferases; D008550:Melatonin
EXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDY; INDOLES; LIGHT; METABOLISM; PINEAL BODY; RATS; TRANSFERASES