Melatonin effects on the cytoskeletal organization of MDCK and neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells.

Despite the fact that many physiological and pharmacological actions of melatonin (MEL) have been described, its mechanism of action at the subcellular level remains unclear. It has been suggested that MEL has effects on cellular processes that involve microfilaments and microtubules. In the present study MEL effects on the cytoskeleton were evaluated in MDCK and N1E-115 cells in which the microfilaments have been shown to participate in cell morphology and dome formation (MDCK) and the microtubules in neurite outgrowths. After one day of culture with 10(-11)-10(-7) M MEL MDCK cells showed an increase in the number of elongated cells. After four days with the hormone, an increase in the incidence of MDCK cells contacting neighboring cells through long cytoplasmic elongations was observed. Actin antibody stain showed the appearance of thicker fluorescent fibres beneath the cell membrane and over the nucleus in the MEL treated cells. An increase in dome formation in confluent cells was also observed. In N1E-115 cells MEL (10(-13)-10(-5) M) induced an increase in cell with neurite processes. Neurite outgrowth is clearly seen at 24 h after plating. MEL-treated cells grow in clusters with neurites forming intricate networks. Antitubulin antibody stain showed long fluorescent neurites in the N1E-115 MEL-treated cells. A decrease in N1E-115 neurite formation was observed with either serotonin or 6-hydroxymelatonin (6OH-MEL). However, the number of MDCK cells with cytoplasmic elongations was decreased only after 6OH-MEL. We conclude that MEL action at the cellular level involves a modification of the cytoskeletal organization.