Light-induced changes in pineal gland N-acetyltransferase activity: developmental aspects

Neuroendocrinology
D M BronsteinL D Lytle

Abstract

In adult rats, light acting via a retino-pineal gland neural pathway influences pineal gland biochemistry in two ways: (1) it entrains endogenous circadian rhythms in melatonin biosynthesis to the environmental photoperiod and (2) exposure to even very brief periods of light during the nighttime rapidly suppresses the high levels of nocturnal melatonin production. The present studies were undertaken to determine precisely when photic stimulation first influences the enzymic activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the pineal gland enzyme which rate-limits the overall biosynthesis of the hormone melatonin, and to examine some of the cellular mechanisms which might mediate light-induced effects in neonatal animals. Rats of different ages were either killed during the light phase or were exposed to darkness or light for 1 min during the dark phase of the lighting cycle, returned to their litters in darkness for 30 min and then killed. Pineal gland NAT activity in animals nocturnally exposed to 1 min of light was suppressed in animals 6 days of age or older. Nocturnal light exposure did not suppress enzyme activity in 3- to 5-day-old rats, even though these animals displayed clear light:dark differences in pineal gland NAT activity. ...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 6, 1997·Neurochemistry International·J H LeeJ G Chung
Nov 14, 1997·Chronobiology International·T NakamuraY Morita
May 9, 1998·General and Comparative Endocrinology·V CsernusB Mess
Jul 19, 2005·Chronobiology International·Dietmar Weinert

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