Persengiev S P, Kanchev L N
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 1991;29(1):15-8.
The present study was designed to clarify the interaction between the pineal melatonin and adrenal cortex steroid production. Experiments with male rats under chronic stress conditions (sleep deprivation) revealed that melatonin circadian pattern was fully destroyed and daytime plasma concentration were significantly elevated. Constant illumination (2500 lux) during the nighttime was not able to suppress melatonin production in the stressed animals. Plasma concentration of corticosterone were increased in the stressed rats as well. The modulatory effect of melatonin on corticosterone and progesterone production by rat adrenals was studied in a superfusion system. During melatonin challenge progesterone secretion was two-three fold elevated with no effect on corticosterone content in the plasma samples. Pineal cytoplasmic glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors were investigated as well. A specific binding was not observed in that case. Presented data support the existence of direct communication between the pineal and adrenal glands.
本研究旨在阐明松果体褪黑素与肾上腺皮质类固醇生成之间的相互作用。对处于慢性应激条件（睡眠剥夺）下的雄性大鼠进行的实验表明，褪黑素的昼夜节律模式被完全破坏，白天血浆浓度显著升高。夜间持续光照（2500勒克斯）无法抑制应激动物体内的褪黑素生成。应激大鼠的血浆皮质酮浓度也有所升高。在灌注系统中研究了褪黑素对大鼠肾上腺皮质酮和孕酮生成的调节作用。在褪黑素刺激期间，孕酮分泌升高了两到三倍，而对血浆样本中的皮质酮含量没有影响。同时还研究了松果体细胞质糖皮质激素和孕酮受体。在这种情况下未观察到特异性结合。所呈现的数据支持松果体与肾上腺之间存在直接联系。
