Ethanol consumption and its influences in the daily profile of pineal melatonin. Consequences to the central nervous system and the clock genes transcription.

Author(s)

Rafael Peres

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2009-04-24

Examining board members

Jose Cipolla Neto; Ana Carolina Franco Ferreira; Gisele Giannocco

• Advisor: Jose Cipolla Neto

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that alcohol consumption induces complications in sleep onset and maintenance but its influence on melatonin production remains unclear. The present results show that rats receiving 10% ethanol in drinking water for 35 days display an altered melatonin daily profile, with a reduction in the nocturnal mean. This can be partially explained by the reduction in TPH and mainly in AANAT activity. In addition, mRNA expression of both enzymes was also decreased. Upstream in melatonin synthesis pathway, the results showed that noradrenergic signaling is impaired as well. Together, these results state the reasons for the observed melatonin synthesis reduction. Our results also show that alcohol intake causes an alteration in the expression of melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 in hippocampus, cerebellum and suprachiasmatic nucleus. We have also observed an alteration in the expression of clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. These alterations are possibly causing problems to the learning, memory process and circadian synchronization. (AU)