Glutamatergic clock output stimulates melatonin synthesis at night

The rhythm of melatonin synthesis in the rat pineal gland is under the control of the biological clock, which is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN). Previous studies demonstrated a daytime inhibitory influence of the SCN on melatonin synthesis, by using gamma-aminobutyric acid input to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Nevertheless, a recent lesion study suggested the presence of a stimulatory clock output in the control of the melatonin rhythm as well. In order to further investigate this output in acute in vivo conditions, we first measured the release of melatonin in the pineal gland before, during and after a temporary shutdown of either SCN or PVN neuronal activity, using multiple microdialysis. For both targets, SCN and PVN, the application of tetrodotoxin by reverse dialysis in the middle of the night decreased melatonin levels. Due to recent evidence of the existence of glutamatergic clock output, we then studied the effect on melatonin release of glutamate antagonist application within the PVN in the middle of the night. Blockade of the glutamatergic input to the PVN significantly decreased melatonin release. These results demonstrate that (i) neuronal activity of both PVN and SCN is necessary to stimulate melatonin synthesis during the dark period and (ii) glutamatergic signalling within the PVN plays an important role in melatonin synthesis.