The Effects of Melatonin and Serotonin on Blood Flow Fraction and Testosterone Metabolism in Selected Organs of the Male Rat

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Abstract
The fractional distribution of cardiac output to the testes, adrenals, liver, and kidneys and the conversion of testosterone to 4-androstenedione by hepatic and renal homogenates in vitro were measured 4 weeks after implantation of male rats with melatonin and serotonin. The fractional blood flow to these organs was not significantly influenced by the indoles. There was, however, a tendency for the adrenal fraction to be lower in indole-treated rats. Blood levels of corticosterone in these animals were reduced, but significantly so only in the rats implanted with serotonin. The ability of liver preparations to metabolize testosterone in the presence of excess nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide was enhanced after treatment with both indoles suggesting that at least one of the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases had been stimulated. In the case of the kidney, melatonin administration gave rise to depression of the NAD-linked conversion whereas serotonin treatment caused reductions in testosterone conversions in the presence of either NAD or NADP.

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