Alteration by Maternal Pinealectomy of Fetal and Neonatal Melatonin and Dopamine D1 Receptor Binding in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei

Jan 27, 1999Biochemical and biophysical research communications

How Removing the Mother's Pineal Gland Changes Melatonin and Dopamine Receptor Levels in the Baby's Internal Clock Area

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Abstract

A considerable amount of 125I-labelled iodomelatonin was transferred into the fetal circulation from pregnant rats after maternal pinealectomy.

  • Maternal pinealectomy led to increased melatonin binding activity in the fetal suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) on embryonic day 21 and postnatal day 3.
  • The upregulation of melatonin receptors in the fetal SCN normalized once the neonate's melatonin system became active.
  • No changes in melatonin receptors in the SCN were observed in the pregnant rats following pinealectomy.
  • Dopamine D1 receptor binding was altered by pinealectomy in the SCN of both fetal and neonatal rats, as well as in the mothers.
  • Fetal circadian clock in the SCN may be influenced by maternal melatonin rhythms before birth.

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