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Simultaneous measurement of serotonin and melatonin from the intestine of old mice: the effects of daily melatonin supplementation
Author(s) -
Bertrand P. P.,
Bertrand R. L.,
Camello P. J.,
Pozo M. J.
Publication year - 2010
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.2010.00760.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , ileum , enterochromaffin cell , medicine , endocrinology , serotonin , ageing , biology , chemistry , receptor
Ageing is associated with important changes in gastrointestinal function and in the levels of intestinal hormones secreted. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells containing serotonin (5‐HT) and melatonin may play a major role in maintaining gut function during ageing. Our aim was to characterise the mucosal availability of 5‐HT and melatonin in the ileum and colon of a mouse model of ageing. Female young mice (2–5 month; n = 6), aged mice (22–24 months; n = 6) and aged mice treated with melatonin (n = 6; 10 mg/kg/day) were examined. Electrochemical methods were used to measure 5‐HT and melatonin concentrations near the mucosal surface of ileum and distal colon. Amperometry studies showed that steady state levels of 5‐HT from ileum and colon were decreased in aged mice treated with melatonin when compared to aged mice, while compression‐evoked 5‐HT release was unchanged. Differential pulse voltammetry studies showed that young mice had concentrations of 5‐HT of 4.8 ± 0.8 μ m in the ileum and 4.9 ± 1.0 μ m in the colon. Concentrations of melatonin were 5.7 ± 1.4 μ m in the ileum and 5.6 ± 1.9 μ m in the colon. Compared to young mice, the levels of 5‐HT and melatonin were increased in aged mice (combined ileum and colon: 5‐HT = 130% and melatonin = 126% of young mice) and decreased in melatonin‐treated mice (5‐HT = 94% and melatonin = 82%). In conclusion, our data show that the availability of gut 5‐HT and melatonin is increased in aged mice and melatonin treatment suppresses natural gastrointestinal production of 5‐HT and melatonin in the aged mouse intestine.