Melatonin Synthesis in the Pineal Gland: Effect of Light Mediated by the Sympathetic Nervous System

Wurtman, Richard J.; Axelrod, Julius; Fischer, Josef E.

doi:10.1126/science.143.3612.1328

Cited by 265 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In addition to its potent bleaching action on frog skin melanophores (Lerner et al, 1958), melatonin has been found to have an inhibitory effect on the response of the thyroid to methylthiouracil (Baschieri, De Luca, Cramarossa, De Martino, Olivario & Negri, 1963), on the development of rat seminal vesicles (Kappers, 1962) and, when given in minute doses for long periods, on ovarian growth and oestrus (Wurtman, Axelrod & Chu, 1963). The sensitivity to light of the size (Wurtman, Roth, Altschule & Wurtman, 1961;Fiske, Pound & Putman, 1962), histological structure (Roth, Wurtman & Altschule, 1962) and chemistry (Quay, 1961(Quay, , 1963Quay & Halevy, 1962) of the pineal gland has been related to melatonin synthesis by the finding (Wurtman, Axelrod & Fischer, 1964;Wurtman, Axelrod & Potter, 1964) that pineal hydroxyindole-o-methyl transferase activity is also markedly influenced by exposure to light.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Melatonin on Spontaneous Contractions and Response to 5‐hydroxytryptamine of Rat Isolated Duodenum

Quastel

Rahamimoff

1965

British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Melatonin on Spontaneous Contractions and Response to 5‐hydroxytryptamine of Rat Isolated Duodenum

Quastel

Rahamimoff

1965

British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy

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“…Melatonin production and release are, in all species examined, greatest during the daily dark period, falling precipitously with the onset of the light period. Normally this circadian rhythm is synchronized by nerve impulses generated by light acting on the retinas and transmitted to the pineal via norepinephrine released from its sympathetic nerves (15 The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advtisement" in accordance with 18 U. S. C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melatonin secretion decreases during the proestrous stage of the rat estrous cycle.

Ozaki¹,

Wurtman²,

Alonso³

et al. 1978

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Urine was collected from rats during 12 consecutive daily dark periods and assayed for melatonin and norepinephrine; the phase of the vaginal estrous cycle associated with each urine sample was determined from daily vaginal smears. The proestrous phase of the estrous cycle was consistently associated with si nificant reductions in the excretions of both compounds. The revel of melatonin in any urine sample tended to vary as a function of its norepinephrine content; however, the slope of the curve relating these two compounds in metestrous-diestrous samples differed from that for-proestrous-estrous specimens. This difference suggests that factors other than the catecholamine (e.g., gonadal hormones) also affect melatonin secretion. Oophorectomy elevated the melatonin concentration of serum but not that of the pineal; this rise was suppressed by the administration of estrogen plus progesterone. The fate of circulating melatonin (as indicated by the proportion of an exogenous dose excreted into the urine) was not affected by the state of the estrous cycle.The administration of melatonin, an indolic hormone synthesized in the mammalian pineal organ (1-4), inhibits the growth and functional activity of the rat ovary (4-6); for example, it delays vaginal opening, reduces ovary weight, depresses the incidence of vaginal smears showing estrous cytology, and suppresses the secretion of luteinizing hormone (7,8).The rate at which pineal organs synthesize (9-11) and secrete (12-14) melatonin has been shown to vary with a characteristic 24-hr rhythm that is well synchronized with the environmental photoperiod. Melatonin production and release are, in all species examined, greatest during the daily dark period, falling precipitously with the onset of the light period. Normally this circadian rhythm is synchronized by nerve impulses generated by light acting on the retinas and transmitted to the pineal via norepinephrine released from its sympathetic nerves (15 The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advtisement" in accordance with 18 U. S. C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact. 531 rhythms, vaginal smears were performed daily, and only rats showing at least three consecutive 4-day cycles were used. In studies on urinary melatonin and norepinephrine, urine was collected from 60-day-old rats between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. [the period during which at least 80% of the total daily melatonin output is secreted (14)] for at least 12 consecutive days; the rats were housed individually in metabolic cages (22.5 X 22.5 X 27.5 cm; Acme Metal Products, Chicago, IL). In studies on the fate of circulating melatonin, 60-day-old rats received a melatonin injection (250 ng in corn oil, subcutaneously) between 7:30 and 8 p.m. daily for 4 days, and their overnight urine specimens were collected for melatonin assay; daily vaginal smears were also taken and examined. In studies on 'the effects of castration and exogenous gonadal hormones (estro...

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“…In addition to photic influence on the secretory activity in the pineal body (WURTMAN et al, 1964), its endocrine effects on the central nervous system have been proposed (ANTON-TAY and WURTMAN, 1969;NIR, BEHROZI, AssAEL et al, 1969;QUAY, 1965QUAY, , 1970. In fishes, there exists a reciprocal BARTHELD and MOLL, 1954;KAPPERS, 1960;SMITH, 1971).…”

Section: Pineal Bodymentioning

confidence: 99%

Microvasculature as studied by the microvascular corrosion casting/scanning electron microscope method. I. Endocrine and digestive system.

Ohtani

Kikuta

Ohtsuka

et al. 1983

Arch. Histol. Jap., Arch. Histol. Jpn

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Melatonin Synthesis in the Pineal Gland: Effect of Light Mediated by the Sympathetic Nervous System

Cited by 265 publications

References 10 publications

Effect of Melatonin on Spontaneous Contractions and Response to 5‐hydroxytryptamine of Rat Isolated Duodenum

Effect of Melatonin on Spontaneous Contractions and Response to 5‐hydroxytryptamine of Rat Isolated Duodenum

Melatonin secretion decreases during the proestrous stage of the rat estrous cycle.

Microvasculature as studied by the microvascular corrosion casting/scanning electron microscope method. I. Endocrine and digestive system.

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