Summary
Effects of continuous lighting on glycogen in pineal cells of the mouse were histochemically investigated, qualitatively and quantitatively.
In continuous lighting, glycogen stores in pineal cells show a striking increase during the first three days. The glycogen level rises almost fourfold in 1 day of lighting and reaches a peak at 2 days. At 3 days it begins to decrease slightly. After 3 days the glycogen level decreases gradually until it returns almost to normal in 3 weeks. Continuous lighting causes a decrease in the size of pineal cells, and the decreased size of the cells remains almost constant throughout lighting.
In blinded mice, neither glycogen stores in pineal cells nor sizes of pineal cells are affected by continuous lighting.
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Supported by a grant from Takeda Science Foundation, Japan.
We are grateful to Professor Sam L. Clark, Jr., University of Massachusetts, for reading the manuscript and giving valuable suggestions.
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Kachi, T., Matsushima, S. & Ito, T. Effects of continuous lighting on glycogen in the pineal cells of the mouse: A quantitative histochemical study. Z. Zellforsch. 118, 214–220 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341565
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341565