Abstract
Melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland of adult rats is linked to cAMP-dependent transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms affecting its rate-limiting enzyme, the arylalkylamine- N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT). During development of the pineal gland, neuronal control gains access to the earlier matured cAMP-signaling pathway to shape the day–night rhythm in AA-NAT enzymatic activity. By semiquantitative in situ hybridization we analyzed if the developmental onset of a rhythmic AA-NAT activity is correlated to a temporally parallel onset in AA-NAT transcription. We found that AA-NAT mRNA levels in rat pineal gland become rhythmic at postnatal day 5. Thus, AA-NAT gene transcription in rat pineal gland starts to show day–night differences shortly prior to the appearance of a rhythmic AA-NAT activity.
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