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Effect of melatonin on norepinephrine, epinephrine, and corticosterone contents in the adrenal gland of three avian species

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Summary

A single melatonin injection was administered intraperitoneally to three avian species in two doses (250 and 500 μg · 100 g body wt−1). Norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and corticosterone (C) contents of the adrenal gland were measured spectrofluorometrically 0.5, 2, and 24 h after injection. The results showed that melatonin at the lower dose caused a decrease of NE content in bulbul (42%), babbler (52%), and pigeon (39%), while at the higher dose it resulted in a decrease of NE only in bulbul (51%) 0.5 h after treatment. Melatonin at the lower dose also caused a decrease of NE in bulbul (45%) and babbler (53%) 2 and 24 h, respectively, after treatment, while at the higher dose it resulted in an increase of NE in bulbul (82%) and a decrease of NE in babbler (44%) 24 h after injection.

Both low and high doses of melatonin resulted in a decrease of E content in bulbul (32–43%), babbler (34–43%), and pigeon (44–56%) 0.5 h after treatment, and a 34–46% decrease of E in bulbul and a 32–33% decrease of E in babbler 2 h after treatment. A 57% decrease of E was evident in pigeon with the lower dose of melatonin 2 h after injection. Melatonin at the higher dose caused a 67% increase of E in babbler and a 41% decrease of E in pigeon 24 h after administration. Melatonin at the lower dose resulted in an increase of C content in bulbul (70%), babbler (132%), and pigeon (69%) 0.5 h after treatment. A 60% increase of C was evident in pigeon following the lower dose of melatonin 24 h after injection. Melatonin at the higher dose resulted in an increase of C in the bulbul of 72% and 86% at 0.5 and 24 h, respectively, after treatment. The results indicate that melatonin produces significant changes of NE, E, and C contents in three avian species. The lower dose appears to be more effective in changing NE and C content.

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Abbreviations

C :

corticosterone

CA :

catecholamine

DBH :

dopamine β-hydroxylase

E :

epinephrine

NE :

norepinephrine

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Author notes

  1. S. K. Mahata

    Present address: Department of Pharmacology, University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Strasse 1a, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Histophysiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, 700 019, Calcutta, India

    S. K. Mahata & K. De

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  1. S. K. Mahata
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  2. K. De
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Mahata, S.K., De, K. Effect of melatonin on norepinephrine, epinephrine, and corticosterone contents in the adrenal gland of three avian species. J Comp Physiol B 161, 81–84 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258750

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