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Changes with darkness in regional brain 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid: Local differences with pinealectomy, sham surgery, and melatonin

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Abstract

Brain regional 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) and 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid) concentrations in male LE rats at three times were measured by a fluorescence method, to evaluate effects of intracranial surgery and administration of melatonin on the changes in these compounds during the first part of the dark phase of the daily cycle in a fixed 12:12 L:D photoperiod. Early surgical pinealectomy or a similar but sham intracranial surgery, led to delay in darkness-associated fall in frontal cortical and striatal 5-HT. A single melatonin injection two hours before darkness, reversed this effect in frontal cortex but not striatum. Melatonin's specification of action in this experiment is interpreted as residing in specific timing of release and/or administration, rather than in either a fixed or general basis neurochemically.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology-Anatomy, University of California, 94720, Berkefey, California

    W. B. Quay

  2. Bio-Research Laboratory, 2003 Ida Street, 94558, Napa, California

    W. B. Quay

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  1. W. B. Quay
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I dedicate with pleasure this work to Professor Paola S. Timiras, outstanding researcher, scholar and teacher, and constant friend.

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Quay, W.B. Changes with darkness in regional brain 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid: Local differences with pinealectomy, sham surgery, and melatonin. Neurochem Res 14, 957–961 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965929

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965929

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