Premium
Co‐Expression of Melatonin (MEL 1a ) Receptor and Arginine Vasopressin mRNAs in the Siberian Hamster Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
Author(s) -
Song C. Kay
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2000.00479.x
Subject(s) - suprachiasmatic nucleus , endocrinology , medicine , vasopressin , melatonin , biology , periventricular nucleus , melatonin receptor , hypothalamus , supraoptic nucleus , pinealocyte , pineal gland , arcuate nucleus
Durational melatonin signals, cued by the photoperiod and generated by the pineal gland, are processed in the brain to induce seasonally appropriate physiological and behavioural adaptations. The melatonin receptor subtype MEL 1a (also known as mt 1 ) appears to regulate seasonal responses. Single label in situ hybridization for MEL 1a receptor mRNA revealed labelled cells in several brain regions of Siberian hamsters, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, and the reuniens nucleus of the thalamus. To characterize suprachiasmatic nucleus cells containing MEL 1a receptor mRNA, we used 35 S‐labelled cRNA probes for MEL 1a receptor mRNA in combination with digoxigenin‐labelled cRNA probes for vasopressin, somatostatin, or orphan retinoid Z receptor β (RZR β ; a putative nuclear melatonin receptor). Cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus that contained MEL 1a receptor mRNA also contained mRNAs for vasopressin and RZR β , but not for somatostatin. These data suggest that suprachiasmatic nucleus vasopressin cells may respond to melatonin signals, raising the possibility that suprachiasmatic nucleus vasopressin output mediates some of the effects of melatonin on seasonal or circadian responses.