Ontogenetic effects of MAO-A inhibition on rat pineal N-acetylserotonin and melatonin during the first month of neonatal life

Inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) but not MAO-B stimulate the activity of pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) in the adult rat pineal leading to increased formation of N-acetyl serotonin (NAS) and melatonin (MEL). The pineal gland of the neonatal rat has AANAT activity, but the second enzyme in melatonin biosynthesis, HIOMT (hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase) converting NAS to MEL, is absent during the first week of neonatal life. In this study we examined the effects of acute clorgyline treatment in vitro and in vivo, on pineal indoles over the first month of neonatal life. The results show that clorgyline stimulates NAS production by pineal both in vitro and in vivo from day five on with a marked increase between day 14 and day 21. In contrast, MEL is not increased until day 21, with a sharp rise thereafter. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.