ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract: The effect of l-glutamate on the adrenergic-stimulated release of melatonin in the rat pineal gland was examined using an in vitro perfusion system. l-Glutamate by itself had no effect on melatonin secretion whereas l-glutamate administered prior to (–)-isoproterenol (β-adrenergic agonist) and l-phenylephrine (α-adrenergic agonist) inhibited melatonin production by 42%. l-Glutamate did not inhibit melatonin secretion when glands were stimulated with (–)-isoproterenol alone. d-Glutamate, as well as the l-glutamate agonists kainate, N-methyl-d-aspartate, quisqualate, and trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1, 3-dicarboxylic acid, had no effect on the (–)-isoproterenol-and l-phenylephrine-stimulated secretion of melatonin, which suggests that the inhibitory effects of glutamate are not mediated via any of the known glutamate receptor subtypes. The possibility that l-glutamate may be converted to another neuroactive compound (GABA) prior to the addition of (–)-isoproterenol and l-phenylephrine is suggested by the observation that simultaneous administration of l-glutamate with (–)-isoproterenol and l-phenylephrine did not inhibit melatonin production.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.1994.62062241.x
