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Effects of Short Photoperiod and Melatonin Treatment on Thermogenesis in the Syrian Hamster
Author(s) -
Viswanathan Mohan,
Hissa Raimo,
George John C.
Publication year - 1986
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.1986.tb00754.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , hamster , medicine , brown adipose tissue , endocrinology , thermogenesis , photoperiodism , biology , hibernation (computing) , muscle hypertrophy , mesocricetus , adipose tissue , state (computer science) , algorithm , computer science
This study investigated whether short photoperiod or melatonin‐treatment could alter the thermogenic capacity of Syrian hamsters. Exposure of hamsters to short photoperiod and to exogenous melatonin treatment induced gonadal regression and hypertrophy of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Short photoperiod and melatonin‐induced BAT hypertrophy was not accompanied by any change in noradrenaline (NA) turnover in this tissue. The concentration of NA was significantly decreased in hypertrophied BAT, indicating that sympathetic innervation in BAT did not effect its hypertrophy. No improvement in nonshivering thermogenic capacity was noticed in hamsters with increased BAT mass. However, capability for shivering thermogenesis seemed to be enhanced in melatonin‐treated hamsters. These observations suggest that melatonin, in addition to mediating short photoperiod‐induced gonadal regression in the Syrian hamster, also brings about thermoregulatory adjustments necessary for hibernation.