Melatonin Synthesis in the Rat Harderian Gland: Age- and Time-related Effects

Djeridane, Yasmina; Touitou, Yvan

doi:10.1006/exer.2000.0973

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…effect of melatonin and age has been carried out in mammals. A study in rats concluded that pineal and plasma melatonin concentrations decline with age [40]. This pattern was not observed in the trial presented here since a strong seasonal pattern was observed with the lowest values being observed at the first sampling point which took place in winter and the highest in the early summer month of May at the end of the trial.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 67%

The effect of seasonality on normal haematological and innate immune parameters of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss L.

Morgan

Thompson

Auchinachie

et al. 2008

Fish & Shellfish Immunology

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 67%

The effect of seasonality on normal haematological and innate immune parameters of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss L.

Morgan

Thompson

Auchinachie

et al. 2008

Fish & Shellfish Immunology

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“…Recently, it was reported that chronic MEL infusion enhanced the ability of the Harderian gland to produce MEL, thus leading to an increased basal level of the hormone in the Djungarian hamster [20]. Such a mechanism might explain the elevated basal level in our study, because the MEL-producing Harderian gland also exists in the rat [21]. Moreover, in the present study, the plasma profile shows supraphysiological levels of the hormone during and after daily MEL infusion.…”

Section: Treatment Administration Data Recording and Analysissupporting

confidence: 67%

Entrainment of Circadian Activity Rhythms in Rats to Melatonin Administered at T Cycles Different from 24 Hours

Slotten¹,

Pitrosky²,

Krekling³

et al. 2002

Neurosignals

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Entrainment of running wheel activity in DD was studied in adult male Long Evans rats exposed to cycles of a constant dose of melatonin (MEL; 100 µg/h) infused subcutaneously. The period (T) of the MEL cycle was initially kept at 24 h until stable entrainment was established; T was then changed in a stepwise manner, and each new T value was maintained for at least 20 cycles. Entrainment by phase advance occurred near circadian time 12 (activity onset), and the range of entrainment was between 30 and 35 min. The negative phase angle difference between activity onset and MEL onset increased as T values approached the entrainment limit, whereas no change in the duration of daily activity periods was found. No difference was observed between pre- and posttreatment values of the endogenous circadian period; hence, no aftereffects were found for any T value. These results indicate that the functional properties of entrainment to MEL are similar to those of entrainment to light, suggesting that both zeitgebers share a common timing mechanism.

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“…It is also possible that melatonin functions in the Harderian gland without receptors. Moreover, a lipophilicity of this indoleamine permits its transfer through biological membranes, and the effects of melatonin have also been found to be mediated through its antioxidant action in the Harderian gland (Djeridane and Touitou, 2001). Furthermore, it has been suggested that melatonin, synthesized in the Harderian gland, could be a precursor of other biologically active compounds, for example, 5-methoxytryptophol (Djeridane et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%