The melatonin receptor in the bactrian camel pineal: cloning experiments and distribution studies

The aim of this study was to identify the high-affinity melatonin-receptor subtypes expressed in pineal of camel. To achieve this, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), sequencing and immunohistochemistry were used. By using RT-PCR, mRNA of melatonin receptors MT1/MT2 were detected in the pineal of bactrian camel. The highest identity was 87.2% and 97.6%, respectivly for MT1 and MT2 compatively with white yak. The pridict protein of the deduce amino acid sequence showed a tendency towards forming the 7-TM motif profile of G-protein. The immunohistochemistry studies showed that melatonin receptors are expressed in pinealocytes and glial cells of pineal. Overall, these results showed that melatonin receptors are expressed in the bactrian camel pinealocytes, and melatonin, possible as intracrine or autocrine, can influence pinealocytes and pineal physiological function.