Abstract
SECRETORY cells of the chicken pineal gland exhibit light-sensitive circadian rhythms in melatonin release that persist in vitro1–12. Melatonin secretion is positively regulated by cyclic AMP and intracellular Ca2+ (refs 8, 10–15). Cyclic AMP analogues are more effective at stimulating melatonin secretion during the circadian night owing in part to increased Ca2+ influx at those times12. However, this cannot be attributed to increased activity of L-type Ca2+ channels12. Here we describe an unusual 40-pS cationic channel (ILOT) m cultured chicken pineal cells that is permeable to Ca2+ and active in the night but not during the day. ILOT is not voltage- or stretch-activated, it has a characteristically long open time, and its gating persists in excised inside-out patches in the absence of Ca2+ or cyclic nucleotides. Daily rhythms in ILOT gating are also observed in previously entrained chicken pineal cells free-running under constant dark conditions. Nighttime ILOT activity is not suppressed by brief light pulses.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Deguchi, T. Nature 282, 94–97 (1979).
Robertson, L. M. & Takahashi, J. S. J. Neurosci. 8, 12–21 (1988).
Robertson, L. M. & Takahashi, J. S. J. Neurosci. 8, 22–31 (1988).
Zatz, M. & Mullen, D. Brain Res. 450, 137–143 (1988).
Zatz, M. & Mullen, D. Brain Res. 453, 51–62 (1988).
Zatz, M. & Mullen, D. Brain Res. 453, 63–71 (1988).
Zatz, M. et al. Brain Res. 438, 199–215 (1988).
Zatz, M. & Mullen, D. Brain Res. 463, 305–316 (1989).
Nikaido, S. S. & Takahashi, J. S. Neuron 3, 609–619 (1989).
Takahashi, J. S. et al. Rec. Prog. Hormone Res. 45, 279–352 (1989).
Zatz, M. J. biol. Rhyth. 7, 301–311 (1992).
Nikaido, S. S. & Takahashi, J. S. Brain Res. (in the press).
Harrison, N. & Zatz, M. J. Neurosci. 9, 2462–2467 (1989).
Zatz, M. Brain Res. 477, 14–18 (1989).
Zawilska, J. B. & Nowak, J. Z. Neurosci. Lett. 118, 17–20 (1990).
Dryer, S. E. & Henderson, D. Nature 353, 756–758 (1991).
Dryer, S. E. & Henderson, D. (1993). J. comp. Physiol.A 172, 271–279 (1993).
Michel, S. et al. Science 259, 239–241 (1993).
D'Souza, T. & Dryer, S. E. Brain Res. 656, 85–94 (1994).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
D'Souza, T., Dryer, S. A cationic channel regulated by a vertebrate intrinsic circadian oscillator. Nature 382, 165–167 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/382165a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/382165a0
This article is cited by
-
Diurnal modulation of pacemaker potentials and calcium current in the mammalian circadian clock
Nature (2002)
-
Circadian clock in Malpighian tubules
Nature (1997)
-
Ion channels get the message
Nature (1996)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.