Endocrinology, Vol 107, 1061-1064, Copyright © 1980 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Ontogeny of the pineal melatonin rhythm in the Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and Siverian (Phodopus sungorus) hamsters and in the rat

L Tamarkin, SM Reppert, DJ Orloff, DC Klein, SM Yellon and BD Goldman

The ontogeny of the pineal melatonin rhythm was determined in three rodent species. Pineal glands were obtained either during the day or during the expected peak in melatonin at night. In all species the rhythm was first detected during the second week of life. Investigations of the photic regulation of pineal melatonin revealed that light could inhibit the nocturnal increase in melatonin in all species by the end of the second week of life. These studies indicate that for these species the development of the rhythm in pineal melatonin and the development of the mechanism involved in the photic suppression of the nocturnal increase in melatonin are independent of the role the pineal gland plays in regulating reproductive function in response to changes in environmental lighting.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. P. Butler, K. W. Turner, J. H. Park, J. P. Butler, J. J. Trumbull, S. P. Dunn, P. Villa, and I. Zucker Simulated natural day lengths synchronize seasonal rhythms of asynchronously born male Siberian hamsters Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): R402 - R412. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. P. Butler, J. J. Trumbull, K. W. Turner, and I. Zucker Timing of puberty and synchronization of seasonal rhythms by simulated natural photoperiods in female Siberian hamsters Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): R413 - R420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Rowe and D. J. Kennaway Melatonin in rat milk and the likelihood of its role in postnatal maternal entrainment of rhythms Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2002; 282(3): R797 - R804. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. C. Davis Melatonin: Role in Development J Biol Rhythms, December 1, 1997; 12(6): 498 - 508. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Underwood and B. D. Goldman Vertebrate Circadian and Photoperiodic Systems: Role of the Pineal Gland and Melatonin J Biol Rhythms, December 1, 1987; 2(4): 279 - 315. [PDF]

				L Tamarkin, C. Baird, and O. Almeida Melatonin: a coordinating signal for mammalian reproduction? Science, February 15, 1985; 227(4688): 714 - 720. [Abstract] [PDF]