Abstract
ATP is coreleased with noradrenaline in several noradrenergic synapses, and P2-like receptors were shown to be present in rat pineal glands. A new method of functional investigation was developed to assess the importance of both transmitters (noradrenaline and ATP) in eliciting the synthesis of melatonin and its precursor N′-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine ( N′-acetyl-5-HT) through transmural electrical field stimulation of cultured pineal glands. Incubation with the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (>10 −7 M) blocked almost completely the production of N′-acetyl-5-HT, whilst the P2 receptor antagonists pyridoxalphosphate-6 azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS, >3×10 −6 M) and suramin (>10 −6 M) blocked it partially. These findings indicate a physiologically relevant role for the purinergic cotransmission in this system.
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