Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-12-19
pubmed:abstractText
In the present study, to evaluate the role that sigma receptors play in the physiology of the pineal gland, we assessed the effects of the sigma receptor ligand (+)-N-allylnormetazocine on the gland activity during either the day or the night. As compared to saline, (+)-N-allylnormetazocine enhanced the physiological increases in both pineal N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and melatonin content at night, but it did not affect the biosynthetic activity of the gland during the day. Moreover, (+)-N-allylnormetazocine potentiated the enhancement of NAT activity and pineal melatonin content induced by isoproterenol administration during the day. The nocturnal stimulation of pineal NAT activity and melatonin levels by (+)-N-allylnormetazocine was prevented by pretreatment with rimcazole, a specific sigma receptor antagonist. These results demonstrate that sigma receptor activation by (+)-N-allylnormetazocine is not able, by itself, to stimulate pineal melatonin production, whereas it potentiates the biosynthetic activity of the pineal gland when this is stimulated noradrenergically.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0022-3565
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
275
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
845-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
(+)-N-allylnormetazocine enhances N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin synthesis: preliminary evidence for a functional role of sigma receptors in the rat pineal gland.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't