Attenuated nocturnal rise in pineal and serum melatonin in a genetically cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster with a deficient calcium pump

Russel J. Reiter, Ted White, Alexander Lerchl, Karl‐Arne ‐A Stokkan, Carmen Rodriguez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract: Day and nighttime melatonin production in the pineal gland was compared in normal and cardiomyopathic (polydystrophic) adult male Syrian hamsters. These strains of hamsters were selected for comparison because the cardiomyopathetic hamster displays a deficient transmembrane Ca2+‐pump in a number of tissues, and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) play a central role in the nocturnal increase in pineal melatonin synthesis. Daytime levels of all constituents measured, i.e., pineal N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity, pineal and serum melatonin levels, and pineal 5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP), serotonin, and 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid (5‐HIAA) contents, were comparable in control and dystrophic hamsters. In contrast, the nighttime rises in pineal NAT activity and pineal and serum melatonin levels were significantly attenuated in the dystrophic hamsters. By comparison, the pineal contents of 5‐HTP, serotonin, and 5‐HIAA were essentially the same in both groups of hamsters with both pineal serotonin and 5‐HIAA values exhibiting the usual nighttime drop. It is presumed that the alterations in nocturnal melatonin production in the pineal gland of the cardiomyopathic hamster may relate to a generalized deficiency in the Ca2+‐pump in pinealocyte plasma membranes, which leads to unusually high [Ca2+]i, causing a depression of NAT activity; this leads to the commensurate decline in pineal and serum melatonin levels. Harderian gland NAT activity and melatonin levels were essentially similar in the two groups of animals, although NAT activity was slightly depressed in the dystrophic hamsters killed during the day. The reduced amounts of intrascapular brown fat in the cardiomyopathic hamster is speculated to be a result of the diminished amount of melatonin produced in these animals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)156-162
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of pineal research
Volume11
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1991

Keywords

  • Pineal gland
  • carcadian rhythm
  • cardiomyopathic hamster
  • melatonin
  • serotonin metabolism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

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