Putative melatonin receptors in a human biological clock
In vitro autoradiography with /sup 125/I-labeled melatonin was used to examine melatonin binding sites in human hypothalamus. Specific /sup 125/I-labeled melatonin binding was localized to the suprachiasmatic nuclei, the site of a putative biological clock, and was not apparent in other hypothalamic regions. Specific /sup 125/I-labeled melatonin binding was consistently found in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of hypothalami from adults and fetuses. Densitometric analysis of competition experiments with varying concentrations of melatonin showed monophasic competition curves, with comparable half-maximal inhibition values for the suprachiasmatic nuclei of adults (150 picomolar) and fetuses (110 picomolar). Micromolar concentrations of the melatonin agonist 6-chloromelatonin completely inhibited specific /sup 125/I-labeled melatonin binding, whereas the same concentrations of serotonin and norepinephrine caused only a partial reduction in specific binding. The results suggest that putative melatonin receptors are located in a human biological clock.
- Research Organization:
- Laboratory of Developmental Chronobiology, Boston, MA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6605892
- Journal Information:
- Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 242:4875
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AROMATICS
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BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
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NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
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ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
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550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques