Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists regulate adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate accumulation and melatonin release in chick pineal cell cultures.

Endocrinology
B L Pratt, J S Takahashi

Abstract

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has been shown to stimulate melatonin synthesis in mammalian pineal; however, a regulatory role for VIP in the avian pineal has not been explored. Immunocytochemical and physiological response experiments were performed to investigate whether 1) immunoreactive VIP fibers innervated the avian pineal gland; 2) VIP had a specific effect on melatonin release that was mediated by cAMP stimulation; and 3) alpha 2-adrenergic signal transduction was associated with a reduction in cAMP levels. Immunocytochemical experiments demonstrated the presence of both tyrosine hydroxylase- and VIP-immunoreactive fibers in the avian pineal gland. Treatment of dispersed chick pineal cell cultures with VIP stimulated melatonin release (maximum 6-fold increase; EC50 = 1.8 nM) when administered during the 12-h light period of a 12-h light, 12-h dark cycle. Of the other four peptides tested [porcine VIP-(10-28), porcine peptide histidine isoleucine, porcine secretin, and human glucagon), only peptide histidine isoleucine stimulated melatonin release (EC50 = 30 nM). The effect of VIP was mediated by a time- and dose-dependent increase in cAMP accumulation (maximum 4-fold increase). The specific alpha 2-agonist UK-1...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 18, 1991·Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research·M BernardJ P Collin
Dec 4, 2003·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Valér CsernusAkira Arimura
May 25, 1999·Progress in Neurobiology·J Falcón
Apr 1, 1997·Journal of Pineal Research·T Okano, Y Fukada
May 12, 2006·Chronobiology International·Valér J Csernus
May 2, 2001·Microscopy Research and Technique·Z FejérB Vígh

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