Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of different photoperiods on the methylating capacity of the pineal gland of adult, male golden hamsters, with special reference to 5-methoxyindoles

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Testes weight, plasma FSH and LH concentration and pineal methylating capacity were compared in hamsters housed under either long (LD 14∶10) or short (LD 8∶16) photoperiods.

Hamsters housed for 14 weeks under short photoperiod showed gonadal atrophy, which was complete after 6 weeks. Also plasma FSH and LH concentration showed a marked decline after transfer to short photoperiod. However, after 14 weeks the concentration of FSH and LH as well as testes weight increased again.

Under both photoperiods day/night rhythms in plasma FSH and LH concentration were measured. Under both light regimes the concentrations did not show significant differences.

Under long as well as short photoperiods in the pineal gland of animals no significant differences were found in the daily synthesis of various MI tested. Only the synthesis of ML was significantly higher in the pineal of hamsters housed under short photoperiod. The function of this higher synthesis of ML remains unknown.

Although the maxima of the rhythm for the various MI found under different LD regimes did not differ in magnitude or duration, their location in respect to the onset of darkness was different. It is suggested that this specific location is of more physiological importance than the quantity or duration of synthesis, concentration or release of MI.

At the moment the day/night rhythms were determined there were indications that recrudescence of the testes had already started. It is suggested that this recrudescence is responsible for the fact that no differences in the synthesis of MI were found comparing the influence of both photoperiods.

After 14 weeks of exposure to short photoperiod, aML synthesis was, in contrast to the synthesis of the other MI, (not significantly) higher under LD 8∶16. Moreover, opposite results for aMT and aML synthesis during darkness were found. It is suggested that the ratio of synthesis of these compounds is of physiological significance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

MI:

5-methoxyindoles

MW:

5-methoxytryptophah

MT:

5-methoxytryptamine

aMT:

melatonin

ML:

5-methoxytryptophol

aML:

O-acetyl-5-methoxytryptophol

MA:

5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid

HIOMT:

hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase

FSH:

follicle-stimulating hormone

LH:

luteinizing hormone

LD:

light/dark

References

  • Balemans MGM, Bary FAM, Legerstee WC, Van Benthem J (1978 b) Estimation of the methylating capacity of the pineal gland of the rat with special reference to the methylation of N-acetylserotonin and 5-hydroxytryptophol separately. Experientia 34: 1434–1435

    Google Scholar 

  • Balemans MGM, Noordegraaf EM, Bary FAM, Van Berlo MF (1978 a) Estimation of the methylating capacity of the pineal gland with special reference to indole metabolism. Experientia 34: 887–888

    Google Scholar 

  • Balemans MGM, Pévet P, Van Benthem J, Haldar-Misra C, Smith I, Hendriks HG (1983) Day/night rhythmicity in the methylating capacities for different 5-hydroxyindoles in the pineal, the retina and the Harderian gland of the golden hamster(Mesocricetus auratus) during the annual seasons. J Neural Transm 56: 53–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck O, Pévet P (1984) Analysis of melatonin, 5-methoxytryptophol and 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid in the pineal gland and retina of hamster by capillary column gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chrom 311: 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson B, Ebels I (1981) Other pineal peptides and related substances — physiological implications for reproductive biology. In: Reiter RJ (ed) The pineal gland, vol II: reproductive effects,2Fl. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 165–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Berndtson WE, Desjardins C (1974) Circulating LH and FSH levels and testicular function in hamsters during light deprivation and subsequent photoperiodic stimulation. Endocrinology 95: 195–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Brainard GC, Petterborg LJ, Richardson BA, Reiter RJ (1982) Pineal melatonin in Syrian hamsters: circadian and seasonal rhythms in animals maintained under laboratory and natural conditions. Neuroendocrinology 35: 342–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Czyba JC, Girod C, Durand N (1964) Sur l'antagonisme épiphyso-hypophysaire et les variations saisonnières de la spermatogénèse chez le hamster doré(Mesocricetus auratus). C R Soc Biol (Paris) 158: 742–745

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebels I (1981) Pteridines in the pineal organ. In: Oksche A, Pévet P (eds) The pineal organ: photobiology — biochronometry — endocrinology. Elsevier/North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 281–302 (Development in endocrinology, vol 14)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaston S, Menaker M (1967) Photoperiodic control of hamster testis. Science 158: 925–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman BD (1983) The physiology of melatonin in mammals. Pineal Res Rev 1: 145–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman RA, Reiter RJ (1965 a) Influence of compensatory mechanisms and the pineal gland on dark-induced gonadal atrophy in male hamsters. Nature 207: 658–659

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman RA, Reiter RJ (1965 b) Pineal gland: influence on gonads of male hamsters. Science 148: 1609–1611

    Google Scholar 

  • Matt KS, Stetson MH (1979) Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal interactions during spontaneous testicular recrudescence in golden hamsters. Biol Reprod 20: 739–746

    Google Scholar 

  • Panke ES, Reiter RJ, Rollag MD, Yanko TW (1978) Pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin concentrations in prepubertal and adult Syrian hamsters exposed to short daily photoperiods. Endocr Res Comm 5: 311–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Panke ES, Rollag MD, Reiter RJ (1979) Pineal melatonin concentrations in the Syrian hamster. Endocrinology 104: 194–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Panke ES, Rollag MD, Reiter RJ (1980) Effects of photoperiod on hamster pineal melatonin concentration. Comp Biochem Physiol 66 A: 691–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P (1983) Is 5-methoxytryptamine a pineal hormone? Psychoneuroendocrinology 8: 61–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P, Balemans MGM, Legerstee WC, Vivien-Roels B (1980) Circadian rhythmicity of the activity of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) in the formation of melatonin and 5-methoxytryptophol in the pineal, retina and Harderian gland of the golden hamster. J Neural Transm 49: 229–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P, Haldar-Misra C (1982 a) Effect of 5-methoxytryptamine on the testicular atrophy induced by experimental or natural short photoperiods in the golden hamster. J Neural Transm 55: 69–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P, Haldar-Misra C (1982 b) Morning injections of large doses of melatonin, but not of 5-methoxytryptamine, prevent in the hamster the antigonadotrophic effect of 5-methoxytryptamine administrated late in the afternoon. J Neural Transm 55: 85–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P, Haldar-Misra C (1982 c) Daily 5-methoxytryptamine injections inhibit short day induced testicular atrophy in golden hamsters. J Neural Transm 55: 95–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P, Haldar-Misra C, Öcal T (1981 a) Effect of 5-methoxytryptophan and 5-methoxytryptamine on the reproductive system of the male golden hamster. J Neural Transm 51: 303–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Pévet P, Haldar-Misra C, Öcal T (1981 b) The independency of an intact pineal gland on the inhibition by 5-methoxytryptamine of the reproductive organs in the male hamster. J Neural Transm 52: 95–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiter RJ (1980) The pineal and its hormones in the control of reproduction in mammals. Endocrin Rev 1: 109–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiter RJ, Vaughan MK, Blask DE, Johnson LY (1975) Pineal methoxyindoles: new evidence concerning their function in the control of pineal-mediated changes in the reproductive physiology of male golden hamsters. Endocrinology 96: 206–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson BA, Vaughan MK, Petterborg LJ, Johnson LY, King TS, Smith I, Reiter RJ (1983) Natural and synthetic analogues of melatonin and related compounds. I. Effects on the reproductive system of the male Syrian hamster. J Neural Transm 56: 187–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Sackman JW, Little JC, Rudeen PK, Waring PJ, Reiter RJ (1977) The effects of pineal indoles given late in the light period on reproductive organs and pituitary prolactin levels in male golden hamsters. Horm Res 8: 84–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan MN, Rollag MD (1983) Development and melatonin content of the deep pineal gland in the Syrian hamster. Am J Anat 168: 145–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith I (1982) The indoles, a one letter code nomenclature. EPSG Newsletter 8

  • Steinlechner S, Champney ThH, Houston ML, Reiter RJ (1984) Simultaneous determination of N-acetyltransferase activity, hydroxyindole-Omethyl-transferase activity, and melatonin content in the pineal gland of the Syrian hamster. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 175: 93–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetson MH, Watson-Whitmyre M (1984) Physiology of the pineal and its hormone melatonin in annual reproduction in rodents. In: Reiter RJ (ed) The pineal gland. Raven Press, New York, pp 109–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamarkin L, Reppert SM, Klein DC (1979) Regulation of pineal melatonin in the Syrian hamster. Endocrinology 104: 385–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Turek FW, Alvis JD, Elliot JA, Menaker M (1976) Temporal distribution of serum levels of LH and FSH in adult male golden hamsters exposed to long or short days. Biol Reprod 14: 630–631

    Google Scholar 

  • Turek FW, Elliot JA, Alvis JD, Menaker M (1975) Effect of prolonged exposure to nonstimulatory photoperiods on the activity of the neuroen docrine-testicular axis of golden hamsters. Biol Reprod 13: 475–481

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Benthem J, Mans DRA, Haldar-Misra C, Ebels I, Balemans MGM (1985) Daily and seasonal rhythmicity in the methylation of pineal indolic compounds in adult male golden hamsters, kept under natural conditions. J Neural Transm 64: 295–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath L (1979) Comparative morphology of the vertebrate pineal complex. In: Arïens Kappers J, Pévet P (eds) The pineal gland of vertebrates, including man. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomed Press, Amsterdam, pp 25–38 (Progress in brain research, vol 52)

    Google Scholar 

  • Welschen R, Osman P, Dullaart J, De Greef WJ, Uilenbroek JThJ, De Jong FH (1975) Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, oestradiol-17 and progesterone, and follicular growth in the pseudopregnant rat. J Endocrin 64: 34–47

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. van Benthem

    Present address: Department of Experimental Zoology, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Zoology, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    M. G. M. Balemans

  2. Department of Pharmacology, State University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. de Koning

  3. Department of Organic Chemistry, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    I. Ebels

Authors
  1. J. van Benthem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. de Koning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Ebels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. G. M. Balemans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Benthem, J., de Koning, J., Ebels, I. et al. The effect of different photoperiods on the methylating capacity of the pineal gland of adult, male golden hamsters, with special reference to 5-methoxyindoles. J. Neural Transmission 67, 147–162 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01243367

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01243367

Key words

Search

Navigation