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Stimulation of Serotonin‐N‐Acetyltransferase Activity in the Pineal Gland of the Mongolian Gerbil ( Meriones unguiculatus ) by Intracerebroventricular Injection of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide
Author(s) -
Schröder Hannsjörg,
Stehle Jörg,
Møller Morten
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1989.tb00914.x
Subject(s) - gerbil , vasoactive intestinal peptide , pineal gland , endocrinology , medicine , serotonin , stimulation , 5 ht receptor , biology , receptor , melatonin , neuropeptide , chemistry , ischemia
There is ever‐increasing evidence that intrapineal peptides have an important role in the modulation of pineal melatonin synthesis. In the pineal gland of the Mongolian gerbil ( Meriones unguiculatus ), we have previously shown the presence of VIP‐immunoreactive nerve fibers as well as pinealocytic VIP receptors. To assess the functional significance of these findings, 10 μl of a 1 μM or 1 nM solution of VIP were injected into the lateral ventricle of gerbils over a period of 10 min. Animals were killed 1.5 hr after injection, and the superficial pineal glands were excised and assayed for N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity. Injection of the 1 μM VIP solution stimulated the NAT activity to values four times the control values. The results are compatible with an in vivo influence on the pineal gland indole metabolism of the nonsympathetic VIP‐containing nerve fibers via VIP‐receptors present in the gland.