Biomaterial Database

Effects of melatonin treatment and environmental lighting on the ultrastructural appearence, melatonin synthesis, norepinephrine turnover and microtubule protein content of the rat pineal gland. 1975

F Freire, and D P Cardinali

Melatonin administration or exposure of rats to darkness for two weeks induced comparable changes in pineal ultrastructure, compatible with a generalized organ's activation. These include an increased number of ribosomes, procentrioles and microtubules, prominent nucleoli and Golgi apparatus, and annulate lamellae. Melatonin treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase of hydroxyindole-O-methyl transferase and serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activities. In addition it increased by 85% the colchicine binding capacity of pineal homogenates, an estimation of the microtubule protein content of the gland. Pineal norepinephrine turnover was not affected by melatonin treatment. These data indicate that the pineal itself is a target organ for exogenously administered melatonin. Key words: Pineal gland, melatonin, norepinephrine, tubulin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008870	Microtubules	Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS.	Microtubule
D009419	Nerve Tissue Proteins		Proteins, Nerve Tissue,Tissue Proteins, Nerve
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D010870	Pineal Gland	A light-sensitive neuroendocrine organ attached to the roof of the THIRD VENTRICLE of the brain. The pineal gland secretes MELATONIN, other BIOGENIC AMINES and NEUROPEPTIDES.	Epiphysis Cerebri,Pineal Body,Corpus Pineale,Gland, Pineal,Pineal Bodies,Pineal Glands
D003624	Darkness	The absence of light.	Darknesses
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D000121	Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to N-acetylserotonin to form N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (MELATONIN).	Hydroxyindole O-Methyltransferase,Acetylserotonin Methyltransferase,HIOMT,Oxyindol-O-Methyltransferase,Acetylserotonin O Methyltransferase,Hydroxyindole O Methyltransferase,Methyltransferase, Acetylserotonin,O-Methyltransferase, Acetylserotonin,O-Methyltransferase, Hydroxyindole,Oxyindol O Methyltransferase