Home >> Redox Report, Volume 14, Number 3

24-Hour variation in gene expression of redox pathway enzymes in rat hypothalamus: effect of melatonin treatment

Authors: Jiménez-Ortega, Vanesa1; Cano, Pilar1; Cardinali, Daniel2; Esquifino, Ana1

Source: Redox Report, Volume 14, Number 3, June 2009 , pp. 132-138(7)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Buy & download fulltext article:

OR

Price: $48.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

The 24-h changes in medial basal hypothalamic (MBH) gene expression of redox pathway enzymes nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-1 and NOS-2, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and HO-2, Cu/Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase were examined in adult male Wistar rats kept under an alternating regimen of light/dark. Half of the animals received melatonin (?60 ?g/day) in the drinking water. After 1 month, rats were killed at six different time intervals, throughout a 24-h cycle. MBH mRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR analysis. In controls, gene expression of NOS-2 and HO-2 peaked at the early light phase while that of HO-1 showed a maximum at the middle of the dark phase. None of MBH mRNAs encoding NOS-1, Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD and catalase exhibited significant 24-h variations in control rats. Melatonin administration decreased significantly mRNAs for NOS-1, NOS-2, HO-1 and HO-2 as well as changed their 24-h profile. Melatonin augmented gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD or catalase at certain time intervals only. The results are compatible with the view that the principal indirect (i.e. gene expression of redox pathway enzymes) effect of melatonin on redox pathway in the hypothalamus is mainly exerted via down-regulation of pro-oxidant enzyme mRNAs.

Keywords: NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE; MEDIAL BASAL HYPOTHALAMUS; CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS; SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE; CATALASE; MELATONIN; GENE EXPRESSION; HEME OXYGENASE

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/135100009X392548

Affiliations: 1: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology III, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain 2: Department of Teaching & Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Publication date: 2009-06-01

Related content
Marked list

Tools

Key

Free Content
Free content
New Content
New content
Open Access Content
Open access content
Subscribed Content
Subscribed content
Free Trial Content
Free trial content

Text size:

A | A | A | A
^ Back to top
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. print icon Print this page