Effects of exogenous melatonin on some endocrine, behavioural and metabolic parameters in japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica

Melatonin Decreases Heat Production in Female Broiler Chickens

“…There are several levels at which melatonin may modulate efficiency of nutrient utilisation. This hormone can interact with transcriptional factors (Chuang et al 1996) and growth hormone production (Zeman et al 1999), modulate intermediary metabolism (Zeman et al 1993), affect thermoregulatory mechanisms (Rozenboim et al 1998) and influence energy metabolism (Apeldoorn et al 1999).…”

Effects of Photoperiod Alterations on Adrenocortical, Pineal and Gonadal Activity in Nocturnal bird, Athene brama and Diurnal bird, Perdicula asiatica

“…In contrast, Simpson et al (1983) showed lack of pineal gland influence on photoperiodic clock in male Japanese quail. However, Zeman et al (1993) demonstrated the influence of dietary melatonin on various endocrine and metabolic parameters including adrenal in the same species. Nevertheless, increasing evidences demonstrated the pineal or melatonin mediated effects on reproduction and sexual mechanisms in birds.…”

“…Most of the reports suggested an inhibitory role for pineal on adrenal and gonadal activity in birds (Haldar and Ghosh, 1990;Chakraborty, 1993;Zeman et al, 1993;Sudhakumari and Haldar, 1997;Haldar and Rai, 1997;Haldar et al, 2000). However, the reviews of Ralph (1981) and Vivien-Roels (1985) concerning the influence of pineal gland on avian reproduction, favored inhibitory role but remarked some inconsistent results too.…”

“…In contrast, Simpson et al (1983) reported no influence of pineal gland on luteinizing hormone secretion in male Japanese quail. Interestingly, Zeman et al (1993) demonstrated an inhibitory role for melatonin in corticosterone secretion, behavioral and metabolic activity in the same species.…”

“…However, the effects of temperature and traumatic stress had been addressed (el-Halawani et al, 1973;Assenmacher et al, 1975;Asthemier et al, 1995). Although the inhibitory role of pineal gland on adrenocortical function is documented in birds (Zeman et al, 1993;Sudhakumari and Haldar, 1997), very few studies (Sudhakumari, 1995;Haldar et al, 2000) indicate that pineal gland mediate photic and environmental signals to implicate this phenomenon. Role of pineal gland in mediating the photic signals (Arendt, 1988;Glass, 1988) and its relationship with gonads (Ralph, 1981;Vivien-Roels, 1985;Glass, 1988;Chaturvedi, 1984;Haldar and Ghosh, 1990;Haldar and Rai, 1997) and adrenal (Zeman et al, 1993;Sudhakumari and Haldar, 1997) is being considered.…”