Effects of pinealectomy, gonadectomy, pCPA and pineal extracts on the rat parvocellular neurosecretory hypothalamic system; a fluorescence histochemical investigation

Smith, Alistair; Kappers, J. Ariëns

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(75)90888-4

Cited by 42 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In fact, there is evidence that the pineal gland affects a variety of metabolic, endocrine and behavioral functions through the mediation of 5-HT neurons (Anton-Tay et al, 1968;Tima et al, 1973;Smith & Kappers, 1975;Yates & Herbert, 1976;Olcese et al, 1981;Mess et al, 1984;Ehrlich & Apuzzo, 1985;Miguez et al, 199 I b). While pinealectomy in rats has been shown to decrease 5-HT levels in several brain regions (Moszkowskaet al, 1971;Cardinali, 1975;Sugden & Moms, 1979;Aldegunde et al, 1985;Miguez et al, 1991 a; and decrease the I56 R. SANDYK number of 5-HT containing neurons in hypothalamic nuclei (Smith & Kappers. 1975).…”

Section: Melatonin and Serotonin Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…It is now well established that melatonin is involved in the regulation of brain 5-HT neurotransmission(Anton-Tay Moszkowskaetal.. 1971;Anton-Tay, 1974;Wendel et al, 1974;Cardinali, 1975;Cardinali et al, 1975;Smith & Kappers, 1975;Sugden & Moms, 1979;Aldegunde et al, 1985;Miguez et al, 1991 a;6;1994). In fact, there is evidence that the pineal gland affects a variety of metabolic, endocrine and behavioral functions through the mediation of 5-HT neurons (Anton-Tay et al, 1968;Tima et al, 1973;Smith & Kappers, 1975;Yates & Herbert, 1976;Olcese et al, 1981;Mess et al, 1984;Ehrlich & Apuzzo, 1985;Miguez et al, 199 I b).…”

Section: Melatonin and Serotonin Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 96%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Pineal Gland, Cataplexy, and Multiple Sclerosis

Sandyk

1995

International Journal of Neuroscience

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since the discovery of melatonin as the principal hormone of the pineal gland in 1963, scientists have come to recognize that melatonin is a "master hormone" involved in the control of circadian rhythms and other biological functions. Although little is known about the influence of the pineal gland on motor control, important clues may be obtained by considering the pattern of melatonin secretion during the sleep cycles and particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when melatonin plasma levels are at their lowest. Since REM sleep is characterized by the occurrence of profound atonia which results in an almost complete paralysis of striated muscles, it is suggested that there might be a causal relationship between inhibition of melatonin secretion during REM sleep and the development of REM sleep atonia. This relationship is supported by the findings that melatonin regulates the activity of brainstem serotonin (5-HT) neurons which characteristically cease to fire during REM sleep and which faciliate the development of REM sleep atonia. Moreover, as the muscular atonia of REM sleep is physiologically and pharmacologically indistinguishable from cataplexy, it is possible that the pineal gland also influences to the development of cataplexy. Cataplexy is an ancillary symptom of narcolepsy and also occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). In fact, it is believed that several of the neurological symptoms experienced by patients with MS such as weakness in the legs, feeling of collapsing knees, paroxysmal sudden falling, weakness in the neck, extreme fatigue, intermittent paresthesias, slurring of speech and intermittent blurring of vision, which often are exacerbated by stress and other emotional influences, may reflect the manifestations of cataplexy. Thus, several of the clinical features of MS may reflect a dissociated state of wakefulness and sleep and may improve by the administration of anticataplectic drugs.

show abstract

Section: Melatonin and Serotonin Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Melatonin and Serotonin Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Pineal Gland, Cataplexy, and Multiple Sclerosis

Sandyk

1995

International Journal of Neuroscience

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In experimental animals pinealectomy is associated with reduced 5-HT concentrations in the hypothalamus, midbrainand hippocampus (Moszkowskaet al, 1971;Aldegundeet al, 1985;Sugden &Morris, 1979;Smith & Kappers, 1975;Cardinali, 1975) and peripheral administration of melatonin was reported to increase hypothalamic and brainstem 5-HT concentrations (Anton-Tay et al, 1968;Anton-Tay, 1974;Cotzias et al, 1971). Anton-Tay (1974) proposed that melatonin may compete with 5-HT at receptor sites in the telencephalon causing an increased synthesis of the monoamine in the midbrain and cerebellum.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 96%

Weak electromagnetic fields attenuate tremor in multiple sclerosis

Sandyk

Dann

1994

International Journal of Neuroscience

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It has been estimated that about 75% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) have tremor which can be exceedingly disabling. The most common tremor observed in patients with MS is a cerebellar intention tremor ('kinetic tremor') although postural tremor ('static tremor') is also common and often extremely incapacitating. Currently there is no effective medical treatment for the tremor of MS which, in some severe cases, may be abolished by stereotactic thalamotomy. It was reported recently that extracranial application of brief AC pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the picotesla (pT) range produced improvement in motor and cognitive functions in patients with MS. The present communication concerns three MS patients with a chronic progressive course of the disease (mean age: 39.3 +/- 8.3 years; mean duration of illness: 11.3 +/- 3.2 years) in whom brief external applications of pulsed EMFs of 7.5 pT intensity reduced intention and postural tremors resulting in significant functional improvement. The report suggests that these extremely low intensity EMFs are beneficial also in the treatment of tremors in MS and that this treatment may serve as an alternative method to stereotactic thalamotomy in the management of tremor in MS. The mechanisms by which EMFs attenuate the tremors of MS are complex and are thought to involve augmentation of GABA and serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission in the cerebellum and its outflow tracts.

show abstract

“…It implicates that the possible existence of a similar mechanism for melatonin should be considered. For example it would be possible that the effect of melatonin on 3 H-dopamine release from rabbit or chicken retina is not mediated via melatonin receptors as suggested by Dubocovich (1983Dubocovich ( , 1985 Smith and Kappers (1975) suggested that melatonin may act on the gonadal axis via the serotohinergic pathway and that Anton-Tay (1974) Wilson, 19811. ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%