Premium
Genetic, Temporal and Developmental Differences Between Melatonin Rhythm Generating Systems in the Teleost Fish Pineal Organ and Retina
Author(s) -
Falcón J.,
Gothilf Y.,
Coon S. L.,
Boeuf G.,
Klein D. C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.00993.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , biology , pineal gland , retina , circadian rhythm , medicine , endocrinology , rhythm , clock , gene , circadian clock , photopigment , genetics , neuroscience
Complete melatonin rhythm generating systems, including photodetector, circadian clock and melatonin synthesis machinery, are located within individual photoreceptor cells in two sites in Teleost fish: the pineal organ and retina. In both, light regulates daily variations in melatonin secretion by controlling the activity of arylalkylamine N ‐acetyltransferase (AANAT). However, in each species examined to date, marked differences exist between the two organs which may involve the genes encoding the photopigments, genes encoding AANAT, the times of day at which AANAT activity and melatonin production peak and the developmental schedule. We review the fish pineal and retinal melatonin rhythm generating systems and consider the evolutional pressures and other factors which led to these differences.