[Effects of an epiphyseal peptide preparation epithalamin on serotonin metabolism in the pineal gland of rats].

Biulleten' eksperimental'noi biologii i meditsiny1990PMID: 1705453

Animal StudyEpitalon

Plain Language Summary

Epithalamin injections in pubertal rats increased the nighttime peaks of serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin in the pineal gland without affecting other indole metabolites. The findings suggest that pineal peptides stimulate the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and its further metabolism into melatonin, which may underlie Epithalamin's therapeutic effects.

Abstract

5-day morning injections to pubertal male rats of polypeptide epithalamin preparation obtained from cattle epiphysis, in dose of 0.25 mg/100 g body mass induced the increase of serotonin epiphyseal concentration night peak, N-acetylserotonin and melatonin and didn't produce any essential influence on 5-methoxytryptamine, 5-oxy- and 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid level. It has been concluded, that epiphyseal peptides and indoles interact according to ultrashort connection, epiphyseal peptides point of application is the reaction of tryptophan transformation into serotonin and its further metabolism in N-acetylserotonin and melatonin. It has been suggested that the increase of epiphyseal melatonin production is on the basis of epithalamin therapeutic action.

Authors

Bondarenko, L A; Anisimov, V N