Activity of the hippocampal somatostatinergic system following daily administration of melatonin.

If melatonin or its analogs are to be used therapeutically in humans, their chronic effects on responsiveness of melatonin target cells need to be assessed. We have previously demonstrated that acute melatonin treatment regulates the somatostatinergic system in the rat hippocampus. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of subchronic and chronic daily treatment with melatonin on the somatostatinergic system in the rat hippocampus.

Acutely administered melatonin decreases somatostatin-binding sites and the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on adenylyl cyclase activity in the rat hippocampus.

Melatonin is known to increase neuronal activity in the hippocampus, an effect contrary to that of somatostatin (somatotropin release-inhibiting factor, SRIF). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the somatostatinergic system is implicated in the mechanism of action of melatonin in the rat hippocampus. One group of rats was injected a single dose of melatonin [25 microg/kg subcutaneously (s.

Effects of subchronic and chronic melatonin treatment on somatostatin binding and its effects on adenylyl cyclase activity in the rat frontoparietal cortex.

Melatonin and somatostatin are known to exert similar effects on locomotor activity. We have previously demonstrated that acute melatonin treatment regulates somatostatin receptor function in the rat frontoparietal cortex. However, the effects of subchronic and chronic melatonin treatment on the somatostatin receptor-G protein-adenylyl cyclase system in the rat frontoparietal cortex are unknown.

Acute modulation of somatostatin receptor function by melatonin in the rat frontoparietal cortex.

Since melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) decreases locomotor activity and rearing and increases grooming behavior in a similar manner as somatostatin (SRIF), we examined if melatonin could induce these changes through somatostatinergic neurotransmission in the rat frontoparietal cortex. Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) received a single injection of melatonin (25 microg/kg per day) subcutaneously (s.c.

Activation of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors increases the activity of the somatostatin receptor-effector system in the rat frontoparietal cortex.

The role of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor subtypes in the regulation, in vivo, of the somatostatin (SRIF) receptor-effector system in rat frontoparietal cortex was investigated. The D1-receptor agonist SKF 38393 (4 mg/kg) or the D2-receptor agonist bromocriptine (2 mg/kg), administered intraperitoneally to rats, increased the number of SRIF receptors without altering the affinity constant, an effect antagonized by both SCH 23390 (0.25 mg/kg) and raclopride (5 mg/kg), D1 and D2 receptor antagonists, respectively.