Abstract
We have assessed whether melatonin can induce c-fos expression at various circadian phases, and whether melatonin can inhibit photically induced c-fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in both rats and Syrian hamsters. Subcutaneous administration of melatonin at a dose of 100 μg/kg neither induced expression of Fos, the protein product of the c-fos proto-oncogene, nor inhibited the expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-lir) induced by a light pulse in the SCN of rats and hamsters. In situ hybridization studies also demonstrated the absence of induction by acute melatonin treatments of c-fos mRNA in the SCN. Taken together, these results demonstrate that melatonin effects on SCN cells involve signal transduction pathways that do not include regulation of c-fos gene expression.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 242-248 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Molecular Brain Research |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 15 1997 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We are grateful to Victoria Muise and Kay Murphy for excellent technical assistance and to Harry Robertson for his support. V.K. was supported by an Associateship jointly from the Canadian International Developmental Agency (CIDA) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. This research was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council of Canada to B.R. (MA8929).
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't