Characterization of two different melatonin binding sites in peripheral tissues of the teleost Tinca tinca

The aim of the present study was to localize and characterize 2-iodo-melatonin ([125I]Mel) binding sites in peripheral tissues of the teleost Tinca tinca. A wide distribution of [125I]Mel binding sites in peripheral locations of the tench is found, with highest densities being measured in the heart, gills and kidney, and low density of [125I]Mel binding sites in gastrointestinal tract, spleen, liver and gonads. Saturation, kinetics, and pharmacological approaches revealed the presence of, at least, two different [125I]Mel binding sites in the tench peripheral tissues. The unique characterized subtype in the heart fulfils all the criteria for a canonical melatonin receptor belonging to MT1 family (the binding is saturable, reversible, and inhibited by GTP analogs), and gives support for the presence of a functional melatonin receptor in the heart of the tench. In contrast, kinetic and pharmacological studies in the kidney revealed the preponderance of a melatonin binding site belonging to the MT3-like receptor subtype. Moreover, the decrease of specific binding in both, heart and kidney membranes, and the decrease of affinity in the kidney, produced by the addition of a non-hydrolysable GTP analog, and sodium cations suggest the presence of Gi/o-proteins (that mediate inhibition of cAMP formation) coupled to such melatonin binding sites. Our results also point to different Gi/o-proteins involved in the underlying mechanism of melatonin binding sites activation in the kidney. Additionally, the kinetics of [125I]Mel binding in kidney membrane preparations is a highly thermosensitive process, being necessary to perform the assays at 4 °C since the equilibrium was not reached at 25 °C assay temperature. The time needed to complete association of [125I]Mel at such low temperature is only 15 s, whereas 100 s is required to displace [125I]Mel specific binding by the unlabeled melatonin in kidney membranes. Present results support previous reports on melatonin effects in the regulation of different physiological functions in teleost (as cardiovascular physiology and osmoregulation) acting through peripheral specific receptors.

► A wide distribution of [125I]Mel binding sites in peripheral locations of the tench is found.
► Two different [125I]Mel binding sites exist in the tench peripheral tissues.
► The unique subtype of [125I]Mel binding sites in the heart may belong to the MT1 superfamily.
► The evidences point to the preponderance of a MT3-like receptor subtype in tench kidney.
► The peripheral [125I]Mel binding sites exhibit Gi/0-protein coupled receptor characteristics.