In vitro effects of adenohypophysial hormones on rat pineal melatonin content and release.

The effect of adenohypophysial hormones on rat pineal melatonin content and release was examined in vitro. Medium concentration of radioimmunoassayable melatonin decreased after a 6 h exposure to 1-100 ng/ml FSH; pineal levels of melatonin were only decreased by 100 ng/ml FSH. LH (1-100 ng/ml) augmented significantly medium melatonin concentration, tissue levels being increased at 10 ng/ml LH. Parallel increases of explant and medium melatonin content were found after exposure to 1-100 ng/ml TSH. At the smallest concentration employed (1 ng/ml) prolactin increased melatonin content and release while at 100 ng/ml a significant depression of both parameters was found. Growth hormone (1-10 ng/ml) augmented melatonin levels in medium but failed to modify them at 100 ng/ml, although at this concentration tissue melatonin levels increased. ACTH did not modify pineal melatonin synthesis in vitro.