Melatonin rhythms in the eyes, pineal bodies, and blood of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

摘要: Abstract Melatonin levels in the eyes, pineal bodies, and blood of Japanese quail exposed to 12L:12D show robust daily rhythms with high occurring night low during day. Since melatonin is synthesized both eyes bodies birds, relative contribution these structures was determined. A rhythm persisted birds blinded by complete orbital enucleation pinealectomized but nighttime were reduced 33 54%, respectively, as compared control quail. Only a small (13% levels) detected pinealectomized, This “residual” could indicate either extrapineal, extraocular sources or secretion from remnants (if any) body tissue remaining after pinealectomy. Blinding did not obviously affect nor pinealectomy ocular levels. It concluded that (1) content occur quail; (2) result eyes; (3) extraretinal photoreceptors can mediate entrainment rhythm; (4) obvious compensatory changes do eye following blinding.