TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of melatonin on neuronal activity in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus in vitro
AU - Shibata, Shigenobu
AU - Cassone, Vincent M.
AU - Moore, Robert Y.
PY - 1989/2/13
Y1 - 1989/2/13
N2 - The pineal hormone melatonin is believed to act directly on the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which are principal circadian pacemakers in rodents, although direct demonstration of this is lacking. To determine whether the SCN are sensitive to melatonin electrophysiologically, we investigated the effect of melatonin on rat SCN single-unit activity in an in vitro hypothalamic slice preparation. SCN single-unit activity was inhibited by melatonin superfusion during the late subjective day in a dose-dependent manner but not at other times of day, supporting the view that melatonin acts directly on SCN neurons.
AB - The pineal hormone melatonin is believed to act directly on the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which are principal circadian pacemakers in rodents, although direct demonstration of this is lacking. To determine whether the SCN are sensitive to melatonin electrophysiologically, we investigated the effect of melatonin on rat SCN single-unit activity in an in vitro hypothalamic slice preparation. SCN single-unit activity was inhibited by melatonin superfusion during the late subjective day in a dose-dependent manner but not at other times of day, supporting the view that melatonin acts directly on SCN neurons.
KW - Circadian rhythm
KW - Melatonin
KW - Single-unit activity
KW - Suprachiasmatic nucleus
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U2 - 10.1016/0304-3940(89)90153-5
DO - 10.1016/0304-3940(89)90153-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 2918997
AN - SCOPUS:0024494277
VL - 97
SP - 140
EP - 144
IS - 1-2
ER -