[Age-related characteristics of the effects of epithalamin on serotonin metabolism in the pineal gland of rats].

Biulleten' eksperimental'noi biologii i meditsiny1992PMID: 1611074

Animal StudyEpitalon

Plain Language Summary

Epithalamin increased the nighttime peak of melatonin in both young and old rats, though the effect was more pronounced in young animals where serotonin and N-acetylserotonin also rose. These findings support the existence of an ultrashort feedback loop between pineal peptides and indoles, with Epithalamin enhancing the conversion of serotonin into melatonin.

Abstract

The biosynthesis of serotonin into melatonin was decreased in old (18-20-month) in comparison to young (4-5-month) male Wistar rats. 5-day morning injections to young and old rats with polypeptide pineal preparation (epithalamin) in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight induced the increase in the night peak of serotonin, N-acetylserotonin and melatonin in young and melatonin alone in old rats and did not influence 5-methoxytryptamine, 5-oxy- and 5-methoxyindoleacetic acids level. These data support suggestion of ultrashort loop between pineal peptides and indoles and that epithalamin increases the metabolism of serotonin into melatonin.

Authors

Bondarenko, L A; Anisimov, V N