Objective To investigate effect of inhibiting melatonin biosynthesis on activities of protein kinase A (PKA), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and tau phosphorylation at PS214 and M4 epitopes using haloperidol, a specific inhibitor of 5-hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase. Methods Brain ventricular and intraperitoneal injections were used for haloperidol administration, Western blots for tau phosphorylation, 32P-labeling for PKA and GSK-3 activity, and high performance liquid chromatograph for detection of serum melatonin levels. Results Haloperidol injection through the lateral ventricle and intraperitoneal reinforcement significantly stimulated PKA activity with a concurrent hyperphosphorylation of tau at M4 (Thr231/Ser235) and PS214 (Ser214) sites. Prior treatment of the rats using melatonin supplement for one week and reinforcement during the haloperidol administration arrested PKA activity and attenuated tau hyperphosphorylation. GSK-3 activity showed no obvious change after haloperidol injection, however, melatonin supplements and reinforcements during haloperidol infusion inactivated basal activity of GSK-3. Conclusion Decreased melatonin may be involved in Alzheimer-like tau hyperphosphorylation, and overactivation of PKA may play a crucial role in this process. Objective To investigate the effect of inhibiting melatonin biosynthesis on activities of protein kinase A (PKA), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and tau phosphorylation at PS214 and M4 epitopes using haloperidol, a specific inhibitor of 5-hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase . Methods Brain ventricular and intraperitoneal injections were used for haloperidol administration, Western blots for tau phosphorylation, 32P-labeling for PKA and GSK-3 activity, and high performance liquid chromatography for detection of serum melatonin levels. Results Haloperidol injection through the lateral ventricle and Prior treatment of the rats using melatonin supplement for one week and reinforcement during the haloperidol administration arrested PKA activity and attenuated tau hyperphosphorylation GSK-3 activity showed no obvious change after halop eridol injection, however, melatonin supplements and reinforcements during haloperidol infusion inactivated basal activity of GSK-3. Conclusion Decreased melatonin may be involved in Alzheimer-like tau hyperphosphorylation, and overactivation of PKA may play a crucial role in this process.