Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 245, Issue 2, 3 April 1998, Pages 113-116
Neuroscience Letters

Circadian expression of serotonin N-acetyltransferase mRNA in the rat retina

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(98)00189-XGet rights and content

Abstract

To investigate the molecular mechanism of the melatonin rhythm in the mammalian retina, we examined the temporal mRNA expression pattern of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, AA-NAT; the rate-limiting enzyme in melatonin synthesis) in the rat retina. Northern blot analysis showed that in a daily light-dark cycle retinal AA-NAT mRNA was low during the day and increased more than threefold at night, and this daily rhythm persisted even in constant darkness. These findings suggest that AA-NAT mRNA expression in the rat retina is regulated by an endogenous circadian clock.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Philip Rodley for proofreading of the manuscript. This study was supported by COE grant and Kyoso Tokken grant from STA and AIST, MITI, JAPAN, respectively.

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