Premium
Melatonin reduces nitric oxide synthase activity in rat hypothalamus
Author(s) -
Bettahi Ilham,
Pozo David,
Osuna Carmen,
Reiter Russel J.,
AcuñaCastroviejo Dario,
Guerrero Juan M.
Publication year - 1996
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.1996.tb00260.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , medicine , endocrinology , nitric oxide synthase , hypothalamus , nitric oxide , hormone , in vivo , endogeny , pineal gland , in vitro , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
In this report, rat hypothalamic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity is shown to be partially inhibited by physiological concentrations of the pineal hormone melatonin. In vitro studies demonstrate that 1 nM melatonin, which approximates the physiological concentration of the hormone at night, significantly inhibited NOS activity. In vivo studies show that administering melatonin or collecting the hypothalamus from animals at night, when endogenous melatonin levels are elevated, results in a significant decrease of NOS activity. Results also show that calmodulin may be involved in this process since its presence in the incubation medium prevents the inhibitory effect of melatonin on NOS activity.