Electrical stimulation of the hypothalamic nucleus paraventricularis mimics the effects of light on pineal melatonin synthesis
In an attempt to clarify further the role of the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN) in the control of pineal function, the effects of 2 min electrical stimulation of these nuclei were investigated in acutely blinded, adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats. Pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity, melatonin content and catecholamine levels were measured by means of radio-enzymatic, radioimmunoassay and high-performance liquid-chromatography methods, respectively. All three pineal parameters underwent significant declines following brief PVN stimulation during the night time. These observations lend credence to the view that the neural pathways transmitting light information to the sympathetic innervation controlling pineal melatonin synthesis. 22 references, 1 figure.
- Research Organization:
- Gutenberg Universitaet, Mainz, West Germany
- OSTI ID:
- 6937706
- Journal Information:
- Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 40:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CELL NUCLEI
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
MELATONIN
BIOSYNTHESIS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CATECHOLAMINES
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
PINEAL GLAND
RADIOENZYMATIC ASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
TRANSFERASES
VISIBLE RADIATION
AMINES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
AZOLES
BODY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENZYMES
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
INDOLES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHENOLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSIOLOGY
POLYPHENOLS
PYRROLES
RADIATIONS
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RODENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRYPTAMINES
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques