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Effect of steroid hormones on serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine contents in the pineal-paraphyseal complex of the soft-shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata punctata)

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Summary

Steroids (testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, corticosterone, dexamethasone and deoxycorticosterone) were administered intramuscularly (0.1 mg · 100 g bw-1) on seven consecutive days to juvenile male soft-shelled turtles. Serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine contents of the pineal-paraphyseal complex were measured spectrofluorometrically 24 h after the last injection. Testosterone and oestrogen decreased serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. Progesterone treatment resulted in an increase of serotonin level and a fall in norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. Corticosterone treatment caused an increase of serotonin level and a decrease of norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. Dexamethasone failed to alter serotonin content, increased norepinephrine and decreased epinephrine levels. Deoxycorticosterone decreased serotonin and elevated epinephrine content.

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Abbreviations

5-HIAA:

5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid

5-MTOH:

5-methoxytryptophol

ANOVA:

analysis of variance; bw body weight

COMT:

catecholamine-o-methyl transferase

E:

epinephrine

HIOMT:

hydroxyindole-o-methyl transferase

MAO:

monoamine oxidase

MS:

mean sum of squares

NAT:

N-acetyltransferase

NE:

norepinephrine

SR:

synaptic ribbon

SS:

sum of squares

SV:

source of variation

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  1. M. Mahata

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

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

    M. Mahata & S. K. Mahata

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Mahata, M., Mahata, S.K. Effect of steroid hormones on serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine contents in the pineal-paraphyseal complex of the soft-shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata punctata). J Comp Physiol B 162, 520–525 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264812

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