Summary
Clorgyline, a selective MAO-A inhibitor, increased (5 times) rat pineal melatonin and N-acetyl-serotonin (NAS) content, and decreased 5-HIAA level by 80%. Deprenyl, a selective MAO-B inhibitor, did not change melatonin or other pineal indoles content. The data obtained show that inhibition of MAO-A but not B enzyme is responsible for pineal melatonin increase caused by MAO inhibitors.
It is suggested that the stimulation of melatonin synthesis caused by MAO inhibitors may contribute to their antidepressive effect.
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Oxenkrug, G.F., McCauley, R., McIntyre, I.M. et al. Selective inhibition of MAO-A but not MAO-B activity increases rat pineal melatonin. J. Neural Transmission 61, 265–270 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01251917
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01251917