Alpha-1 adrenoceptor involvement in the control of melatonin secretion in the golden hamster.

The nocturnal peak in pineal and serum melatonin content was reduced following administration of the selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin in a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. The effect was pronounced one hour post treatment during the late dark phase of the daily photocycle. These data confirm the reported findings that the hamster pineal sensitivity to adrenergic challenge is confined to the second part of the dark phase and indicate that postsynaptically located alpha-1 adrenoceptors are also involved in the physiological control of melatonin synthesis and/or release in that species.