NAS binds to the
melatonin receptors
MT1,
MT2, and
MT3, and may be a partial agonist. In addition, NAS is distributed in some areas of the
brain where serotonin and melatonin are not, suggesting that it may have unique central duties of its own instead of merely functioning as a
precursor in the
synthesis of melatonin. and has been proposed to be a target for the treatment of aging-associated cognitive decline and depression NAS was also found to significantly enhance NPC proliferation in sleep-deprived mice. NAS has been shown to protect against
lipid peroxidation in microsomes and mitochondria. NAS has also been reported to lower resting levels of
ROS in peripheral blood lymphocytes and to exhibit anti-oxidant effects against t-butylated hydroperoxide- and diamide-induced ROS. NAS has also been observed to inhibit
nitric oxide synthase.
Anti-inflammatory effects NAS has been reported to have
anti-inflammatory effects. NAS has been shown to inhibit
LPS-stimulated production of the
proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in differentiated THP-1-derived human monocytes.
Miscellaneous NAS may play a role in the antidepressant effects of
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Furthermore, light exposure inhibits the synthesis of NAS and reduces the antidepressant effects of MAOIs. It reduces
blood pressure in rodents, and
pinealectomy (the
pineal gland being a major site of NAS and melatonin synthesis) abolishes the
hypotensive effects of
clorgyline. ==Biochemistry==