Melatonin inhibits increase of intracellular calcium and cyclic AMP in neonatal rat pituitary via independent pathways.

In neonatal rat pituitary, melatonin inhibits GnRH-induced increase of cAMP and [Ca2+]i. Both effects are transduced by specific high-affinity melatonin receptors coupled with pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein. We have attempted to determine whether melatonin acts via independent pathways on both messengers or whether the indole directly inhibits only one of the messengers and the second is decreased as a secondary consequence. Melatonin inhibition of cAMP accumulation was not prevented by agents known to block melatonin effect on [Ca2+]i such as Na(+)- or Ca2(+)-free medium, Bay K, nifedipine, KCl or gramicidin. Melatonin effect on [Ca2+]i was not prevented by forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP. We therefore conclude that melatonin inhibits cAMP accumulation and [Ca2+]i increase independently by separate pathways.