Role of insulin on the regulation of melatonin synthesis by pineal gland: action mechanisms and functional characteristics

• Grant number: 07/07790-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2008
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Carla Roberta de Oliveira Carvalho
• Grantee: Rodrigo Antonio Peliciari Garcia
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/52920-0 - Melatonin and the control of energy metabolism: central and peripheral actions and the circadian timing of the metabolic function, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/02443-4 - Cardiomyocytes circadian clock in adaptation of the heart to STZ-induced diabetes mellitus, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Melatonin, the mammalian pineal gland hormone, synthesized during the dark phase, shows a circadian and seasonal rhythm. Its synthesis is synchronized to the light/dark cycle and to seasonal photoperiod informations through the year, which is transmitted to the gland through the retino-hypothalamic pathway. Melatonin synthesis is induced by norepinephrine release in the gland perivascular space at night, also modulated by peptidergic systems, for example, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal polipeptide (VIP), Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), moreover, recent publication has shown a important role of insulin on the modulation of melatonin synthesis. Norepinephrine and Insulin modulate the key-enzyme activities involved on melatonin synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPOH) and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) through pos transcriptional mechanisms. Conserning insulin’s important role on melatonin synthesis induced by norepinephrine, the aim of this project is to study the insulin and norepinephrine signaling pathway within the pineal gland.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ANDRADE-SILVA, JESSICA; CIPOLLA-NETO, JOSE; PELICIARI-GARCIA, RODRIGO A. The in vitro maintenance of clock genes expression within the rat pineal gland under standard and norepinephrine-synchronized stimulation. NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, v. 81-82, p. 1-10, APR-MAY 2014. Web of Science Citations: 5.

PELICIARI-GARCIA, RODRIGO A.; MARCAL, ANDERSON C.; SILVA, JESSICA A.; CARMO-BUONFIGLIO, DANIELLA; AMARAL, FERNANDA G.; AFECHE, SOLANGE CASTRO; CIPOLLA-NETO, JOSE; CARVALHO, CARLA R. O. Insulin temporal sensitivity and its signaling pathway in the rat pineal gland. Life Sciences, v. 87, n. 5-6, p. 169-174, JUL 31 2010. Web of Science Citations: 14.