Melatonin inhibits rat medial vestibular nucleus neuron activity in vitro. 2003

Maria V Podda, and Franca Deriu, and Elena Giaconi, and Marcella Milia, and Eusebio Tolu
Department of Biomedical Sciences (Human Physiology and Bioengineering), University of Sassari, V.le S. Pietro 43/B, Italy. mavip@uniss.it

The present study evaluated the effects of melatonin on the discharge rate of tonically active medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons in an in vitro slice preparation of the rat dorsal brainstem. The results demonstrated that, when melatonin was applied to the slice for a period of 7-10 min, a decrease in MVN neuron firing rate was observed in 21/58 (36%) of the cells sampled. The inhibitory effects of melatonin were present in synaptic uncoupling condition and were mimicked by 2-iodomelatonin, a non-selective agonist with high affinity for melatonin membrane receptor subtypes (MT(1), MT(2), MT(3)). The MT(2) receptor antagonists luzindole and 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetraline and the MT(3) receptor antagonist prazosin did not, however, antagonise the inhibitory effects of melatonin, indicating that melatonin may act on MVN neurons through an MT(1) receptor-mediated mechanism.

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.
D009433 Neural Inhibition The function of opposing or restraining the excitation of neurons or their target excitable cells. Inhibition, Neural
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014726 Vestibular Nuclei The four cellular masses in the floor of the fourth ventricle giving rise to a widely dispersed special sensory system. Included is the superior, medial, inferior, and LATERAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Schwalbe Nucleus,Vestibular Nucleus, Medial,Schwalbe's Nucleus,Medial Vestibular Nucleus,Nuclei, Vestibular,Nucleus, Medial Vestibular,Nucleus, Schwalbe,Nucleus, Schwalbe's,Schwalbes Nucleus
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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