Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Melatonin receptors revisited.

N Zisapel1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Journal of Neural Transmission
|January 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Melatonin influences mammalian reproduction by acting on brain regions. Specific binding sites in the brain, identified using 125I-melatonin, suggest the presence of melatonin receptors, varying with age and hormones.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Polymorphism Cluster at the 2q12 locus May Predict Response to Piromelatine in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease.

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease·2022
Same author

Telemetric field studies of body temperature and activity rhythms of Acomys russatus and A. cahirinus in the Judean Desert of Israel.

Oecologia·2017
Same author

Exonal elements and factors involved in the depolarization-induced alternative splicing of neurexin 2.

Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN·2012
Same author

Effects of prolonged-release melatonin, zolpidem, and their combination on psychomotor functions, memory recall, and driving skills in healthy middle aged and elderly volunteers.

Human psychopharmacology·2008
Same author

On the use of the time axis for ecological separation: diel rhythms as an evolutionary constraint.

The American naturalist·2008
Same author

Sleep and sleep disturbances: biological basis and clinical implications.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2007

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • The pineal gland produces melatonin, a hormone crucial for relaying environmental light cues to the mammalian reproductive system.
  • Melatonin's neuroendocrine effects are primarily observed in specific brain areas like the medial preoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei.
  • Reproductive system sensitivity to melatonin is influenced by age, reproductive cycle stage, and circadian timing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neurobiological basis of melatonin's action on the mammalian reproductive axis.
  • To characterize specific binding sites for melatonin in the rodent brain.
  • To explore the factors influencing the distribution and density of these binding sites.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized radioligand binding assays with 125I-melatonin on rodent brain synaptosomal fractions.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Assessed the specificity of 125I-melatonin binding by testing inhibition with melatonin, ML-23, dopamine, and serotonin.
  • Quantified the densities of 125I-melatonin binding sites in various brain regions.

    • Main Results:

    • Specific binding sites for 125I-melatonin were identified in rodent brain synaptosomal fractions.
    • Binding was selectively inhibited by melatonin and the antagonist ML-23, but not by dopamine, serotonin, or related compounds.
    • The density of these binding sites exhibited significant variations based on animal age, circulating steroid hormone levels, and circadian time.

    Conclusions:

    • The presence and characteristics of specific 125I-melatonin binding sites strongly support the existence of melatonin receptors in the brain.
    • These findings provide a molecular basis for melatonin's neuroendocrine regulation of the reproductive axis.
    • The observed variations in binding site density highlight the dynamic nature of melatonin signaling in relation to physiological and temporal factors.