Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone
The pineal gland transduces photoperiodic changes to the neuroendocrine system by rhythmic secretion of melatonin. We recently provided new evidence that the pineal gland is a major neurosteroidogenic organ and actively produces a variety of neurosteroids de novo from cholesterol in birds. Notably,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2014.00118/full |
| _version_ | 1828913572633116672 |
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| author | Kazuyoshi eTsutsui Shogo eHaraguchi |
| author_facet | Kazuyoshi eTsutsui Shogo eHaraguchi |
| author_sort | Kazuyoshi eTsutsui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pineal gland transduces photoperiodic changes to the neuroendocrine system by rhythmic secretion of melatonin. We recently provided new evidence that the pineal gland is a major neurosteroidogenic organ and actively produces a variety of neurosteroids de novo from cholesterol in birds. Notably, allopregnanolone is a major pineal neurosteroid that is far more actively produced in the pineal gland than the brain and secreted by the pineal gland in juvenile birds. Subsequently, we have demonstrated the biological action of pineal allopregnanolone on Purkinje cells in the cerebellum during development in juvenile birds. Pinealectomy (Px) induces apoptosis of Purkinje cells, whereas allopregnanolone administration to Px chicks prevents cell death. Furthermore, Px increases the number of Purkinje cells that express active caspase-3, a crucial mediator of apoptosis, and allopregnanolone administration to Px chicks decreases the number of Purkinje cells expressing active caspase-3. It thus appears that pineal allopregnanolone prevents cell death of Purkinje cells by suppressing the activity of caspase-3 during development. This paper highlights new aspects of the biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:39:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-328ea2319a00407aaa6ab75c36054c13 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:39:30Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-328ea2319a00407aaa6ab75c36054c132022-12-21T23:33:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022014-05-01810.3389/fncel.2014.0011882519Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanoloneKazuyoshi eTsutsui0Shogo eHaraguchi1Waseda UniversityWaseda UniversityThe pineal gland transduces photoperiodic changes to the neuroendocrine system by rhythmic secretion of melatonin. We recently provided new evidence that the pineal gland is a major neurosteroidogenic organ and actively produces a variety of neurosteroids de novo from cholesterol in birds. Notably, allopregnanolone is a major pineal neurosteroid that is far more actively produced in the pineal gland than the brain and secreted by the pineal gland in juvenile birds. Subsequently, we have demonstrated the biological action of pineal allopregnanolone on Purkinje cells in the cerebellum during development in juvenile birds. Pinealectomy (Px) induces apoptosis of Purkinje cells, whereas allopregnanolone administration to Px chicks prevents cell death. Furthermore, Px increases the number of Purkinje cells that express active caspase-3, a crucial mediator of apoptosis, and allopregnanolone administration to Px chicks decreases the number of Purkinje cells expressing active caspase-3. It thus appears that pineal allopregnanolone prevents cell death of Purkinje cells by suppressing the activity of caspase-3 during development. This paper highlights new aspects of the biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2014.00118/fullApoptosisCell SurvivalPineal GlandPurkinje cellNeurosteroidsAllopregnanolone |
| spellingShingle | Kazuyoshi eTsutsui Shogo eHaraguchi Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience Apoptosis Cell Survival Pineal Gland Purkinje cell Neurosteroids Allopregnanolone |
| title | Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone |
| title_full | Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone |
| title_fullStr | Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone |
| title_short | Biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone |
| title_sort | biosynthesis and biological action of pineal allopregnanolone |
| topic | Apoptosis Cell Survival Pineal Gland Purkinje cell Neurosteroids Allopregnanolone |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2014.00118/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kazuyoshietsutsui biosynthesisandbiologicalactionofpinealallopregnanolone AT shogoeharaguchi biosynthesisandbiologicalactionofpinealallopregnanolone |