Simultaneous Determination of N-Acetyltransferase Activity, Hydroxyindole-O-methyl-transferase Activity, and Melatonin Content in the Pineal Gland of the Syrian Hamster

Stephan Steinlechner, Thomas H. Champney, Marshall L. Houston, Russel J. Reiter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The activities of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) and the melatonin content were measured in Syrian hamster pineal glands at 2-hr intervals over a period of 24 hr. NAT and HIOMT are the two enzymes which catalyze the formation of melatonin from serotonin. The use of micromethods for determination of the enzyme activities allowed concurrent measurement of NAT and melatonin or HIOMT and melatonin in the same gland. HIOMT activity showed no significant diurnal rhythm whereas NAT activity and melatonin content exhibited distinct peak values late in the dark phase as described previously. Despite an apparent parallelism between the NAT activity rhythm and melatonin content, no correlation exists between these parameters in single pineal glands.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)93-97
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
Volume175
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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