The profile of melatonin production in tumour-bearing rats

The pineal gland is involved in the regulation of tumour growth through the anticancer activity of melatonin, which presents immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative and anti-oxidant effects. In this study we measured melatonin content directly in the pineal gland, in an attempt to clarify the modulatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Life sciences (1973) 2004-09, Vol.75 (19), p.2291-2302
Main Authors: Ferreira, Ana Carolina Franco, Martins, Eivor, Afeche, Solange Castro, Cipolla-Neto, José, Costa Rosa, Luís Fernando Bicudo Pereira
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cachexia
Carcinoma 256, Walker - metabolism
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Disease Progression
Electrochemistry
Male
Melatonin
Melatonin - analysis
Melatonin - biosynthesis
Melatonin profile
Neoplasms, Experimental - metabolism
Organ Culture Techniques
Pineal
Pineal Gland - metabolism
Proteins - metabolism
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Walker 256 tumour
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Summary:The pineal gland is involved in the regulation of tumour growth through the anticancer activity of melatonin, which presents immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative and anti-oxidant effects. In this study we measured melatonin content directly in the pineal gland, in an attempt to clarify the modulation of pineal melatonin secretory activity during tumour growth. Different groups of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma bearing rats were sacrificed at 12 different time points during 24h (12h:12h light/dark cycle) on different days during the tumour development (on the first, seventh and fourteenth day after tumour inoculation). Melatonin content in the pineal gland was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. During tumour development the amount of melatonin secreted increased from 310.9 ng/mg of protein per day from control animals, to 918.1 ng/mg of protein per day 14 days after tumour implantation, and there were changes in the pineal production profile of melatonin. Cultured pineal glands obtained from tumour-bearing rats turned out to be less responsive to noradrenaline, suggesting the existence, in vivo, of putative factor(s) modulating pineal melatonin production. The results demonstrated that during tumour development there is a modification of pineal melatonin production daily profile, possibly contributing to cachexia, associated to changes in pineal gland response to noradrenaline stimulation.
ISSN:0024-3205
1879-0631
DOI:10.1016/j.lfs.2004.03.033