Premium
Harderian Glands of Golden Hamsters: Temporal and Sexual Differences in Immunoreactive Melatonin
Author(s) -
Hoffman Roger A.,
Johnson Lucinda B.,
Reiter Russel J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1985.tb00636.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , melatonin , harderian gland , castration , biology , ovariectomized rat , testosterone (patch) , hamster , syrian hamsters , golden hamster , androgen , hormone
Throughout a 24‐h period, immunoreactive melatonin concentrations in Harderian glands of female golden hamsters were approximately 200 pg/mg protein with a significant decline to 80 pg/mg protein only at about 0600, 2 h after light on. Concentrations in glands of males are diurnally constant and low (ca. 20 pg/mg protein). Castration increases immunoreactive melatonin in glands of males to female levels. While blinding alone had no effect, it did prevent the castration‐induced increase. Lower conentrations were measured in glands of blinded or blinded ovariectomized females but this decrease was not significant. These data suggest that immunoreactive melatonin concentrations in the Harderian glands of hamsters are controlled by testosterone or its derivatives; these same factors also control the male or female character of these glands.