Abstract
Melatonin binding sites were identified over the leptomeninges surrounding the human fetal brain using quantitative in vitro autoradiography and the melatonin agonist, 2-[125I]iodomelatonin. Binding was found to be saturable and of high affinity (dissociation constant (K(d))=54 pM and maximal theoretical binding (B(max)) = 13 fmol/mg protein), and inhibited by guanosine-5'-o-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS) suggesting that these binding sites represent G protein-coupled melatonin receptors. REIT-PCR performed on mRNA isolated from the human fetal leptomeninges detected expression of the G protein-coupled melatonin receptor Mella, but not Mellb. In situ hybridisation confirmed the localisation of Mella mRNA transcripts over the leptomeninges of the fetal brain. The identification of 2- [125I]iodomelatonin and Mella melatonin receptor expression in the fetal leptomeninges implies that melatonin may play a role in the early growth and development of the human brain.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 87-92 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Brain Research |
Volume | 761 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 Jun 1997 |
Keywords
- melatonin
- melatonin receptor
- leptomeninges
- arachnoid
- pia mater
- human fetus
- meningeal cells
- sites
- brain
- rat
- responses
- neurons