Physiological Effects of Rhythmic Melatonin on Peripheral Cells in a Superfusion System

Abstract

The immediate effects of melatonin from the pineal gland on peripheral cell types such as astrocytes, hepatocytes, and cardiac myocytes are relatively unknown. My research includes designing a superfusion or flow-through system that constantly pumps medium to light-entrained, chick pineal cells. The medium from the pinealocytes, enriched with pineal-specific secretions, will be directed to the above target cells, which are simultaneously housed in constant darkness. Radioimmunoassay for pineal melatonin and ELISA on the target cells’ secretions examines the effects of melatonin ex-vivo. This study will shed light on the direct effects of pineal melatonin on the central nervous system and peripheral organ cell types.