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. 1972 Aug;69(8):2208–2211. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.8.2208

Induction and Superinduction of Serotonin N-Acetyltransferase by Adrenergic Drugs and Denervation in Rat Pineal Organ

Takeo Deguchi 1, Julius Axelrod 1
PMCID: PMC426901  PMID: 4403307

Abstract

Activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) in rat pineal organ is rapidly and markedly elevated in vivo after administration of β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine (L-DOPA), norepinephrine, epinephrine, isoproterenol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or theophylline. Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptophan has no effect on the increase in activity of this enzyme. Inhibitors of protein synthesis or propranolol, a β-adrenergic blocking agent completely inhibit(s) the increase in activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase induced by drugs, indicating that new enzyme molecules are formed via stimulation of β-receptors of pineal cells and adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate. When rat pineal organ is denervated by ganglionectomy, β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine induces much more serotonin N-acetyltransferase than in the innervated gland. This superinduction by denervation appears to be due to changes of the postsynaptic site, probably the β-adrenergic receptor on the pineal cell.

Keywords: neuronal regulation, supersensitivity

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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