Activation of Melatonin Receptor Sites Retarded the Depletion of Norepinephrine Following Inhibition of Synthesis in the C3H/HeN Mouse Hypothalamus

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of activation of melatonin receptor sites on the activity of noradrenergic neurons in the C3H/HeN mouse brain. Changes in noradrenergic activity were assessed by measuring norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hypothalamus, frontal cortex, and hippocampus following inhibition of NE synthesis with α‐methyl‐ p ‐tyrosine (α‐MpT) (300 mg/kg, i.p., 2 h). 6 Chloromelatonin (1–30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly retarded the α‐MpT‐induced decrease in NE levels in the hypothalamus, but not in hippocampus and frontal cortex. This effect was observed at 30 min and 60 min after 6‐chloromelatonin administration and was dose dependent. At noon, when the levels of endogenous melatonin are low, the melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole (30 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min) did not affect the depletion of NE by α‐MpT; however, it (1–30 mg/ kg) completely antagonized the 6‐chloromelatonin‐induced reduction of NE depletion elicited by α‐MpT in hypothalamus. These results suggest that activation of melatonin receptor sites in brain of C3H/HeN mouse retarded the depletion of NE elicited by α‐MpT. At midnight, when the levels of melatonin are high, luzindole (30 mg/kg) significantly accelerated the depletion of NE by α‐MpT in hypothalamus, but not in frontal cortex or hippocampus, suggesting activation of melatonin receptor sites by endogenous melatonin. We conclude that activation of melatonin receptor sites in C3H/HeN mouse brain by endogenous melatonin inhibits the activity of noradrenergic neurons innervating the hypothalamus.