In this study, we investigated adrenergic and photoneural regulation of p38MAPK phosphorylation in the rat pineal gland. Norepinephrine (NE), the endogenous neurotransmitter, dose-dependently increased the levels of phosphorylated MAPK kinase 3/6 (MKK3/6) and p38MAPK in rat pinealocytes. Time-course studies showed a gradual increase in MKK3/6 and p38MAPK phosphorylation that peaked between 1 and 2 h and persisted for 4 h post NE-stimulation. In cells treated with NE for 2 and 4 h, the inclusion of prazosin or propranolol reduced NE-induced MKK3/6 and p38MAPK phosphorylation, indicating involvement of both - and -adrenergic receptors for the sustained response. Whereas treatment with (Bu)₂cAMP or ionomycin mimicked the NE-induced MKK3/6 and p38MAPK phosphorylation, neither (Bu)₂cGMP nor 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had an effect. The NE-induced increase in MKK3/6 and p38MAPK phosphorylation was blocked by KT5720 (a protein kinase A inhibitor) and KN93 (a Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase inhibitor), but not by KT5823 (a protein kinase G inhibitor) or calphostin C (a protein kinase C inhibitor). In animals housed under a lighting regimen with 12 h of light, MKK3/6 and p38MAPK phosphorylation increased in the rat pineal gland at zeitgeber time 18. The nocturnal increase in p38MAPK phosphorylation was blocked by exposing the animal to constant light and reduced by treatment with propranolol, a -adrenergic blocker. Together, our results indicate that activation of p38MAPK is under photoneural control in the rat pineal gland and that protein kinase A and intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling pathways are involved in NE regulation of p38MAPK.