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Low ambient temperature does not affect the pineal concentrations of either 5‐methoxytryptamine or melatonin in golden hamsters kept under short photoperiod
Author(s) -
Raynaud F.,
Pévet P.
Publication year - 1991
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.1991.tb00820.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , pineal gland , photoperiodism , medicine , endocrinology , biology , hamster , golden hamster , monoamine oxidase , botany , biochemistry , enzyme
This work investigates the rhythmic synthesis of pineal 5‐methoxytryptamine and related indoles in golden hamsters as a function of ambient temperature. 5‐methoxytryptamine, 5‐methoxytryptophol, 5‐methoxyindole acetic acid, and melatonin were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the pineal gland of golden hamsters after inhibition of monoamine oxidase. In our experimental conditions, the pineal 5‐methoxyindole concentrations of hamsters kept at 5°C were similar to those observed at 20°C. These results suggest that low temperature, which is known to accelerate the short photoperiod‐induced gonadal regression, acts at a level different to that of the pineal gland or affects another compound in the pineal gland.