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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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