Circadian Entrainment and Phase Shifting in Mammals with Melatonin

Circadian effects of exogenous melatonin, whereby daily administration induces entrainment or phase shifts, have been demonstrated in both nocturnal and diurnal mammals. In Long-Evans rats, as used in early studies, effects occur reliably when melatonin is administered late in the subjective day. A second period of sensitivity to melatonin, late in the subjective night, is evident in certain strains of mice and the diurnal Funambulus pennanti. This late night to early morning sensitive phase previously had been identified in human subjects. Different circadian responses to melatonin also may occur between rat strains. Circadian effects of melatonin in hamsters are diverse and vary with strain, developmental age, and method of administration. Characteristics of melatonin binding sites within the suprachiasmatic nuclei vary both between and within species, as do profiles of endogenous melatonin rhythms. These differences may explain the variations in circadian responses to melatonin.

[1]  E. Maywood,et al.  Regional Distribution of Iodomelatonin Binding Sites within the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus of the Syrian Hamster and the Siberian Hamster , 1995, Journal of neuroendocrinology.

[2]  M. Dubocovich,et al.  Melatonin and Light Induce Phase Shifts of Circadian Activity Rhythms in the C3H/HeN Mouse , 1996, Journal of biological rhythms.

[3]  J. Redman,et al.  Reentrainment of Rat Circadian Activity Rhythms: Effects of Melatonin , 1988, Journal of pineal research.

[4]  R. Reiter.  The melatonin message: duration versus coincidence hypotheses. , 1987, Life sciences.

[5]  E. Maywood,et al.  Non-photic phase shifting of the circadian activity rhythm of Syrian hamsters: the relative potency of arousal and melatonin , 1992, Brain Research.

[6]  J. Redman,et al.  Free-running activity rhythms in the rat: entrainment by melatonin. , 1983, Science.

[7]  V. Cassone.  The Pineal Gland Influences Rat Circadian Activity Rhythms in Constant Light , 1992, Journal of biological rhythms.

[8]  J. Redman,et al.  Effects of Daily Melatonin Administration on Circadian Activity Rhythms in the Diurnal Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus pennanti , 1997, Journal of biological rhythms.

[9]  A. Lewy,et al.  Melatonin shifts human circadian rhythms according to a phase-response curve. , 1992, Chronobiology international.

[10]  M. Gillette,et al.  Melatonin action and signal transduction in the rat suprachiasmatic circadian clock: activation of protein kinase C at dusk and dawn. , 1997, Endocrinology.

[11]  I. Zucker,et al.  Endocrine and neural mediation of the effects of constant light on water intake of rats. , 1974, Neuroendocrinology.

[12]  P. Pévet,et al.  Daily Melatonin Infusion Entrains Free-Running Activity in Syrian and Siberian Hamsters , 1993 .

[13]  D. Skene,et al.  Daily rhythms of melatonin binding sites in the rat pars tuberalis and suprachiasmatic nuclei; evidence for a regulation of melatonin receptors by melatonin itself. , 1993, Neuroendocrinology.

[14]  V. Cassone.  Effects of melatonin on vertebrate circadian systems , 1990, Trends in Neurosciences.

[15]  V. Cassone,et al.  Effects of daily melatonin injections on activity rhythms of rats in constant light. , 1987, The American journal of physiology.

[16]  E. Maywood,et al.  Melatonin receptors in the rat brain and pituitary , 1995, Journal of pineal research.

[17]  F. Davis,et al.  Entrainment of hamster pup circadian rhythms by prenatal melatonin injections to the mother. , 1988, The American journal of physiology.

[18]  K. Pollow,et al.  Serotonin and melatonin contents in the pineal glands from different stocks and strains of laboratory rats. , 1989, Zeitschrift fur Versuchstierkunde.

[19]  V. Cassone,et al.  Effects of melatonin on 2-deoxy-[1-14C]glucose uptake within rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. , 1988, American Journal of Physiology.

[20]  R. R. Margraf,et al.  Melatonin injections affect circadian behavior and SCN neurophysiology in Djungarian hamsters. , 1993, The American journal of physiology.

[21]  S. Yellon.  Daily Melatonin Treatments Regulate the Circadian Melatonin Rhythm in the Adult Djungarian Hamster , 1996, Journal of biological rhythms.

[22]  S. Armstrong,et al.  Melatonin administration entrains female rat activity rhythms in constant darkness but not in constant light. , 1988, The American journal of physiology.

[23]  J. Vanecek,et al.  Hypothalamic melatonin receptor sites revealed by autoradiography , 1987, Brain Research.

[24]  F. Davis,et al.  Entrainment of Syrian hamster circadian activity rhythms by neonatal melatonin injections. , 1996, The American journal of physiology.

[25]  J. Redman,et al.  Successful use of S20098 and melatonin in an animal model of delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS) , 1993, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior.

[26]  L. Tamarkin,et al.  Melatonin: a coordinating signal for mammalian reproduction? , 1985, Science.

[27]  N. Mrosovsky.  Methods of measuring phase shifts: why I continue to use an Aschoff type II procedure despite the skepticism of referees. , 1996, Chronobiology international.

[28]  N. Murakami,et al.  Effects of daily injections of melatonin on locomotor activity rhythms in rats maintained under constant bright or dim light , 1996, Physiology & Behavior.