Abstract
Our previous studies in rat indicated that pinealocytes secrete l-glutamate through microvesicle-mediated exocytosis to regulate negatively melatonin production. Recently, we further found that pinealocytes secrete l-aspartate through microvesicle-mediated exocytosis. In the present study, we investigated the role of l-aspartate in the melatonin production in isolated rat pineal glands. It was found that l-aspartate inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated melatonin production as well as serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity reversibly and dose-dependently, the concentrations required for 50% inhibition being 150 and 175 μM, respectively. l-Asparagine and oxaloacetate, metabolites of l-aspartate, had no effect on the melatonin production. These results suggest that pinealocytes use l-aspartate, as well as l-glutamate, as a negative regulator for melatonin production.
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