Br J Pharmacol 1977 Dec 01;614:607-14.

The action of melatonin on single amphibian pigment cells in tissue culture.

???displayArticle.abstract???
1. Neural crest material from neurula stage Xenopus embryos was tissue cultured as small aggregates of cells or a single cell suspension. Isolated pigment cells differentiated after 2 days in culture. 2. Melatonin (10(-15) to 10(-13) M) induced pigment granule condensation; it was 10,000 times more effective than any other compound tested. 3. Tests with appropriate agents showed the pigment cells to have beta-adrenoceptors and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors; these sites could be blocked without affecting the response to melatonin. Phentolamine blocked the effect of melatonin. 4. Removal of Na+ or Ca2+ from the bathing medium inhibited melatonin-induced pigment granule condensation; 10 mM K+ induced pigment granule condensation. D600, Mn2+ and La3+, which inhibit Ca2+ entry, blocked the effect of melatonin. 5. Cyclic GMP induced pigment condensation and cyclic AMP pigment dispersion (10(-2) to 10(-4) M). 6. It is suggested that the action of melatonin is accompanied by depolarization and the entry of calcium ions. 7. Pigment cells in tissue culture could provide a useful bioassay method for melatonin.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 202360
???displayArticle.pmcLink??? PMC1668059




References [+] :