Mélatonine dans l'organe pinéal, la rétine et le plasma. Etude immunologique chez le Pigeon

Abstract

Summary. An immuno%gical study of melatonin in the pineal organ, retina and plasma of the pigeon.Circadian variations in melatonin content have been studied in the pineal organ, retina and plasma of adult pigeons using radioimmunoassay. A clear-cut peak of melatonin was observed in the pineal organ at middark ; this middark peak was of larger amplitude in July than in November. A nocturnal rise in melatonin concentration was also observed in the retina and plasma.We also used an immunocytochemical technique revealing the positive reactions of a melatonin-like compound in the photoreceptor cell layer (inner segments) of the pigeon's retina. Up to now, no melatonin storage has been visualized in the pineal organ of the pigeon.Introduction.

Immunohistological localization of melatonin in the pineal gland and retina of the rat

“…Further confirmatory investigations, based on this methodology, were carried out by Vivien-Roels etal. [1981], Falcon et al [1981], and Voisin et al [1982] using the pineal gland of fishes, tortoises, lizards, snakes, rats, and pigeons. The demonstration of melatonin binding sites in the pineal gland itself was successful; by means of an immunofluorescence technique, Holloway et al [1985] described melatonin binding in the pineal gland.…”