Abstract
The mammalian pineal gland fulfills the criteria of a “neuroendocrine” transducer.1 It translates a neural language provided by norepinephrine (NE) released at the synaptic biophase to a hormone language,melatonin and perhaps endocrine active peptides. The pinealocytes are also “endocrineendocrine” transducers inasmuch as they convert an endocrine language, e.g. estradiol attaining the gland via the general circulation, to a different endocrine signal like melatonin. Additionally “endocrine-neural” transducer events occur in the pineal gland, as revealed by the significant modifications of the activity of the innery ting sympathetic pathway after several hormone treatments.1,2
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Supported by grant n° 6638 from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.
Established Investigator, CONICET.
Research Fellow, CONICET.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
R.J.Wurtman, Neuroendocrine transducers and monoamines Fed. Proc. 32: 1769 (1973).
D.P.Cardinali, Molecular mechanisms of neuroendocrine integration in the central nervous system: An approach through the study of the pineal gland and its innervating sympathetic pathway, Psychoneuroendocrinology in press.
R.T.Moore, The innervation of the mammalian pineal gland, Proq. Reprod. Biol., 4: 1 (1978).
M.Brownsteín and J.Axelrod, Pineal gland: 24-hour rhythm in norepinephrine turnover, Science, 148: 163 (1974).
H.Nishino, K.Koizumi and C.Mc C.Brooks, The role of suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus in the production of circadian rhythms, Brain Res, 112: 4 (1975).
D.C.Klein, G.R.Berg and J.L.Weller, Melatonin synthesis: Adenosine 35-monophosphate and norepinephrine stimulate N-acetyltransferase, Science, 168: 979 (1970).
R.J.Wurtman, H.M.Shein and F.Larin, Mediation by β -adrenergic receptors of effect of no epinephrine on pineal synthesis of 14C serotonin and 140 melatonin, J. Neurochem, 18: 1683 (1971).
M.Zatz, Sensitivity and cyclic nucleotides in the rat pineal gland, J. Neural Transm, Suppl. 13: 97 (1978)
W.Lovenberg and J.J.Morrisey, Synthesis of RNA in pineal gland during serotonin-N-acetyltransferase induction, Biochem. Pharmacol., 27: 551 (1978).
W.Lovenberg and J.J.Morrisey, Protein synthesis in pineal gland during serotonin-N-acetyltransferase induction, Arch. Biochem. Biophys, 191: 1 (1978).
F.Pelayo, M.L.Dubocovich and S.Z.Langer, Possible role of cyclic nucleotides in regulation of noradrenaline release from rat pineal through presynaptic adrenoceptors, Nature, 274: 76 (1978).
H.J.Lynch, M.Ho and R.J.Wurtman, The adrenal medulla may mediate the increase in pineal melatonin synthesis induced by stress, but not that caused by exposure to darkness, J. Neural Transm. 40: 87 (1977).
D.C.Klein and J.Weller, Adrenergic-adenosine 3,5-monophosphate regulation of serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity to synthesis of 3H-N-acetylserotonin and 3Hmeletonin in the cultured rat pineal gland, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 189: 516 (1973).
L.Alphs, A.Heller and W.Lovenberg, Adrenergic regulation of the reduction in acetyl coenzyme A: arylamine Nacetyltransferase activity in the rat pineal, J. Neurochem., 34: 83 (1980).
T.L.Smith, J.Eichberg and G.Hanser, Postsynaptic localization of the alpha receptor-mediated stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover in pineal gland, Life Sci., 24: 2179 (1979).
F.Pelayo, M.L.Dubocovich and S.Z.Langer, Regulation of noradrenaline release in the rat pineal gland through a negative feedback mechanism mediated by presynaptic ckadrenoceptors, Eur. J. Pharmacol., 45: 317 (1977).
M.I.Vacas, P.R.Lowenstein and D.P.Cardinali, Dihydroergocryptine binding sites in bovine and rat pineal glands, J. Auton. Nerv. System, 2: 305 (1980).
D.C.Klein, D.A.Auerbach, M.A.A.Namboodiri, G.H.T.Wheler, Indole metabolism in the mammalian pineal gland, in: “The Pineal Gland. Vol. I. Anatomy and Biochemistry”, R.J.Reiter, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1981), p. 199.
M.J.Berridge, Phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis: A multifunctional transducing mechanism, Mol. Celi. Endocr., 24: (1981).
E.G.Lapetina, Regulation of arachidonic acid production: Role of phosphalipases C and A2, Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 3: 115 (1982).
L.S.Wolfe, Eicosanoids: Prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and other derivatives of carbon-20 unsaturated fatty acids, J. Neurochem., 38: 1 (1982).
T.C.Westfall, Neuroeffector mechanisms, Annu. Rev. Physiol., 42: 383 (1980).
R.Szabo and A.J.Friedhoff, Decrease of serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity in rat pineal organs after treatment with prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin, Prostaglandins, 11: 503 (1976).
M.N. Ritta and D.P. Cardinali, Effect of indomethacin treatment on monoamine metabolism and melatonin synthesis of rat pineal gland, Hormone Res., 12: 305 (1980).
N.H.Neff and H.Y.Yang, Another look at the monoamine-oxidase inhibitor drugs, Life Sci., 14: 2061 (1974).
M.I.Uacas and D.P.Cardinali, Effects of castration and reproductive hormones on pineal serotonin metabolism in rats, Neuroendocrinology, 28: 187 (1979).
R.Flowers, Drugs which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, Pharmacol. Rev., 26: 33 (1974).
H.S.Kantor and M.Hampton, Indomethacin in submicromolar concentrations inhibits cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase, Nature, 276: 841 (1978).
D.P.Cardinali, M.N.Ritta, N.S.Speziale and M.F.Gimeno, Release and specific binding of prostaglandins in bovine pineal gland, Prostaglandins, 18: 577 (1979).
M.Mglller and Th. van Veen, Fluorescence histochemistry of the pineal gland, in:“The Pineal Gland. Uol.I Anatomy and Biochemistry”, R.J.Reiter, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton Fla (1981) p. 69.
M.N.Ritta and D.P.Cardinali, Prostaglandin E2 increases adenosine 3,5-monophosphate.concentration and binding site occupancy, and stimulates serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity in rat pineal glands in vitro, Mol. Cell. Endocr., 23: 151 (1981).
D.P.Cardinali, M.N.Ritta, C.Gonzalez Solveyra and E. Pereyra, Role of prostaglandins in rat pineal neuroeffector junction. Changes in melatonin and norepinephrine release in vitro, Endocrinology, in press.
S.Suzuki, R.Franco-Saenz and P.J.Mulrow, The role of renal prostaglandins in the renin response to isoproterenol in the rat in vitro, Endocrinology, 108: 1654 (1981).
C.R.Partington, M.W.Edwards and J.W.Daly, Regulation of cyclic AMP formation in brain tissue by α-adrenergic receptors: Requisite intermediacy of prostaglandins of the E series, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 3024 (1980).
P.Hedqvist, Basic mechanisms of prostaglandin action on autonomic neurotransmission, Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 17: 249 (1977).
S.Hirose, H.Yokosawa, I.Inagami and J.Workman, Renin and prorenin in hog brain: ubiquitous distribution and high concentration in the pituitary and pineal, Brain Res., 191: 489 (1980).
D.G.Changaris, L.M.Demers, L.C.Keil and W.B.Severs, Immunopharmacology of angiotensin I in brain, in: “Central Actions of Angiotensin and Related Hormones” J.P. Buckley and C.Ferraro, eds., Pergamon, New York (1977) p 233.
D.G.Changaris, L.C.Keil and W.B.Severs, Angiotensin II immunohistochemistry of the rat brain, Neuroendocrinology, 25: 257 (1978).
N.M.Panagiotis and G.F.Hungerford, Response of pineal sympathetic nerve processes and endings to angiotensin, Nature, 211: 374 (1966).
I.Haulica, G.Petrescu, M.Ulnitu, V.Rasca and S.Slatineanus, Influence of angiotensin II on dog pineal serotonin content, Neurosci. Lett., 18: 329 (1980).
B.Chertow, The role of lysosomes and proteases in hormone secretion and degradation, Endocr. Rev. 2: 137 (1981).
V.E.Nahmod,M.S.Bwlda, C.J.Pirola, S.Finkielman, P.U.Gejman and D.P.Cardinali, Circadian rhythm and neural regulation of rat pineal angiotensin converting enzyme, Brain Res. 236: 216 (1982).
V.E.Nahmod, E.F.Lazcano, C.J.Pirola, M.S.Balda, A.Alvarez, P.U.Gejman and D.P.Cardinali, Efecto inhibitorio del simpético sobre la actividad del sistema renina-angiotensina en la pineal de la rata, Medicina (Buenos Aires) 40: 770 (1980) (abs).
M.J.Peach, Renin-angiotensin system: Biochemistry and mechanisms of action, Physiol. Rev., 57: 313 (1977).
P.V.Gejman, D.P.Cardinali, S.Finkielman and V.E.Nahmod, Changes in drinking behavior caused by superior cervical ganglionectomy and pinealectomy in rats, J. Auton. Nerv. System, 4: 249 (1981).
D.P.Cardinali, Hormone effects on the pineal gland, in: “The Pineal Gland. Vol.I. Anatomy and Biochemistry”, R.J.Reiter, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton Fla (1981) p 243.
D.P.Cardinali, C.A.Nagle and J.M.Rosner, Control of estrogen and androgen receptors in the rat pineal gland by catecholamine transmitter, Life Sci. 16: 93 (1975).
D.P.Cardinali, C.A.Nagle and J.M.Rosner, Metabolic fate of androgens in the pineal organ: Uptake, binding to cytoplasmic proteins and conversion of testosterone into 5α-reduced metabolites, Endocrinology, 95: 179 (1974).
M.I.Vacas, P.R.Lowenstein and D.P.Cardinali, Characterization of a cytosolprogesterone receptor in bovine pineal gland, Neuroendocrinology, 24: 84 (1979).
M.I.Vacas and D.P.Cardinali, Binding sites for melatonin in bovine pineal gland, Hormone Res., 13: 121 (1980).
W.E.Stumpf and M.Sar, Steroid hormone target cells in the periventricular brain: Relationship to peptide hormone producing cells, Fed. Proc., 36: 1973 (1977).
D.P.Cardinali, C.A.Nagle and J.M.Rosner, Aromatization of androgens to estrogens by the rat pineal gland, Experientia, 30: 1222 (1974).
D.P.Cardinali, C.A.Nagle and J.M.Rosner, Gonadal steroids as modulators of the function of the pineal gland, Gen. Comp. Endocr., 26: 50 (1975).
I.Hahukoglu, H.J.Karavolas and R.W.Goy, Progesterone metabolism in the pineal gland, brain stem, thalamus and corpuscallosum of the female rat, Brain Res., 125: 313 (1977).
G.Litwack, ed. “Biochemical Actions of Steroids”, val. 6, Academic Press, New York (1979).
E.U.Jensen, M.Numata, P.I.Brecher and E.R.De Sombre, Hormone-receptor interaction as a guide to biochemical mechanism, in: “The Biochemistry of Steroid Hormone Action”, R.M.S. Smellie, ed., Academic Press, New York (1971) p. 133.
M.Ginsburg, B.D.Greenstein, N.J.MacLusky and P.J.Thomas, An improved method for the study of high affinity steroid binding: Oestradiol binding in the brain and pituitary, Steroids, 23: 773 (1974).
D.P.Cardinali, Nuclear receptor-estrogen complex in the pineal gland. Modulation by sympathetic nerves, Neuroendocrinology, 24: 333 (1977).
I.Lieberburg, N.MacLusky and B.S.McEwen, Cytoplasmic and nuclear estradiol-17β binding in male and female rat brain: Regional distribution, temporal aspects and metabolism, Brain Res., 193: 487 (1980).
T.G.Muldoon, Regulation of steroid hormone activity, Endocr. Rev., 1: 339 (1980).
D.P.Cardinali, E.Gomez and J.M.Rosner, Changes in 3H-leu-cine incorporation into pineal proteins following estradiol or testosterone administration: Involvement of the sympathetic superior cervical ganglion, Endocrinology, 94: 849 (1976).
N.Emmelin and U.Trendelenburg, Degeneration activity after parasympathetic or sympathetic denervation, Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Exp. Pharmacol., 66: 148 (1972).
P.Schotman, J.Allart and W.H.Gispen, Pineal protein synthesis highly sensitive to ACTH-like neuropeptides, Brain Res., 219: 121 (1981).
C.A.Nagle, D.P.Cardinali and J.M.Rosner, Testosterone effects on protein synthesis in the rat pineal gland. Modulation by the sympathetic nervous system, Life Sci., 16: 81 (1975).
C.A.Nagle, D.P.Cardinali and J.M.Rosner Diurnal rhythm in tissue radioactivity uptake after 3-H-estradiol and 3H-testosterone administration to castrated rats, Steroids Lip. Res., 5: 107 (1974).
P.Seem, C.Demaine and L.Uollrath, The effects of sex hormones,prolactin and chorionic gonadotrophin on pineal electrical activity in guinea pigs. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 1: 259 (1981).
J.T.Epplen, H.Kaltenhauser, W.Engel and J.Schmidtke, Patterns of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases in the rat pineal gland: Sex differences in diurnal rhythmicity, Neuro-endocrinology, 34: 46 (1982).
D.P.Cardinali, C.A.Nagle, E.Gomez and J.M.Rosner, Norepinephrine turnover in the rat pineal gland. Acceleration by estradiol and testosterone, Life Sci., 16: 1717 (1975).
D.P.Cardinali and M.I.Uacas, Norepinephrine turnover in pineal gland and superior cervical ganglia. Changes after gonadotrophin administration to castrated rats, J. Neural Transm. 45: 273 (1979).
D.P.Cardinali, M.I.Uacas and P.U.Gejman, The sympathetic superior cervical ganglia as peripheral neuroendocrine centers, J. Neural. Transm., 52: 1 (1981).
M.I.Uacas, P.R.Lowenstein and D.P.Cardinali, Testosterone decreases β-adrenoceptor sites in rat pineal gland and brain, J. Neural Transm. 53: 49 (1982).
M.I.Uacas and D.P.Cardinali, Effect of estradiol on and β-adrenoceptor density in medial basal hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and pineal gland of ovariectomized rats, Neurosci. Lett., 17: 73 (1980).
D.P.Cardinali, M.I.Uacas, C.E.Ualenti and C.Gonzalez Solveyra, Pineal gland and sympathetic cervical ganglia as sites for steroid regulation of photosensitive neuro-endocrine pathways, J. Steroid Biochem., 11: 951 (1979).
L.T.Williams and R.J.Lefkowitz, “Receptor Binding Studies in Adrenergic Pharmacology”, Raven Press, New York (1978).
D.P.Cardinali, M.I.Uacas, A.L.Fortis and F.J.Stefano, Superior cervical ganglionectomy depresses norepinephrine uptake, increases the density of α-adrenoceptor sites and induces supersensitivity to adrenergic drugs in rat medial basal hypothalamus, Neuroendocrinology, 33: 199 (1981).
M.Pisarev, D.P.Cardinali, G.Juvenal, M.I.Uacas, M.Barontini and R.Boado, The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the control of the goitrogenic response in the rat. Endocrinologj, 109: 2202 (1981).
D.P.Cardinali, M.Pisarev, M.Barontini, G.Juvenal, R.Boado and M.I.Uacas, Efferent neuroendocrine pathways of sympathetic superior cervical ganglia. Early inhibition of pituitary-thyroid axis after ganglionectomy, Neuroendocrinology, in press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cardinali, D.P. et al. (1983). Molecular Aspects of Neuroendocrine Integrative Processes in the Pineal Gland. In: Axelrod, J., Fraschini, F., Velo, G.P. (eds) The Pineal Gland and its Endocrine Role. NATO Advanced Science Institutes Series, vol 65. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1451-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-1451-7_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-1453-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-1451-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive