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Iodinated melatonin mimics melatonin action and reveals discrete binding sites in fetal brain
Author(s) -
Weaver David R.,
Namboodiri M.A.Aryan,
Reppert Steven M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80599-4
Subject(s) - melatonin , medicine , endocrinology , pars tuberalis , pineal gland , suprachiasmatic nucleus , median eminence , hamster , arcuate nucleus , site of action , biology , hypothalamus , melatonin receptor , fetus , chemistry , hormone , pituitary gland , pregnancy , genetics
Iodinated melatonin was used to study melatonin sites of action in brain. Iodomelatonin mimicked the effects of melatonin on reproductive development in Djungarian hamster fetuses. 125 I‐melatonin injected into the dam was recovered from fetal brain. In vitro autoradiographic studies revealed a remarkably discrete distribution of competitive 125 I‐melatonin‐binding sites in the fetal brain, with binding in median eminence/arcuate nucleus area > suprachiasmatic nucleus > pineal gland ⪢ anterior pituitary gland ⪢ preoptic area. 125 I‐melatonin promises to be a useful tool for understanding the sites and mechanism of action of melatonin.