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Related Experiment Videos

Pineal nitric oxide synthase: characteristics, adrenergic regulation and function

A M Lin1, N C Schaad, P E Schulz

  • 1Section on Neuroendocrinology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Brain Research
|July 18, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Adrenergic stimulation of pineal cyclic GMP involves nitric oxide (NO) synthase. While NO synthase activity is elevated by adrenergic stimulation, NO does not critically regulate cyclic AMP or melatonin production.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Signal Transduction

Background:

  • Adrenergic stimulation influences pineal gland function, including cyclic GMP production.
  • Nitric oxide (NO) derived from arginine is implicated in this process via guanylyl cyclase stimulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics of pineal NO synthase activity.
  • To determine the role of NO in adrenergic stimulation of pineal cyclic nucleotide and melatonin production.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a sensitive microassay to measure NO synthase activity in pineal tissue.
  • Administered norepinephrine to cultured pineal glands and measured [3H]citrulline and NO-like compound formation.
  • Investigated the effects of NO synthase inhibition on adrenergic responses.

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Main Results:

  • Pineal NO synthase activity is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent, primarily cytoplasmic, and inhibited by L-NAME.
  • Norepinephrine treatment increased NO synthase activity and NO formation in intact pineal glands.
  • Inhibition of NO synthase did not affect adrenergic stimulation of cyclic AMP, N-acetyltransferase activity, or melatonin production.

Conclusions:

  • Adrenergic stimulation enhances pineal cyclic GMP accumulation via a Ca2+/calmodulin-sensitive NO synthase pathway.
  • NO plays a role in cyclic GMP regulation but not in the adrenergic stimulation of cyclic AMP, N-acetyltransferase, or melatonin production in the pineal gland.