期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：1972
卷号：69
期号：8
页码：2208-2211
DOI：10.1073/pnas.69.8.2208
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5 ) in rat pineal organ is rapidly and markedly elevated in vivo after administration of {beta}-(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 {beta}-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 {beta}-receptors of pineal cells and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate. When rat pineal organ is denervated by ganglionectomy, {beta}-(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 {beta}-adrenergic receptor on the pineal cell.
