OBJECTIVES: The effect of a single immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on the nocturnal NAT activity in the pineal gland and serum anti-SRBC agglutinin titer was examined in the young, sexually immature ASTRA S chickens. METHODS: 3-, 4-, and 5-week-old birds of both sexes, hatched in long (Spring) and short (Autumn) day, were housed from hatching in controlled light (L:D = 12:12) and...

There has been relatively little research conducted on pineal melatonin production in laboratory mice, in part, due to the lack of appropriate assays. We studied the pineal and plasma rhythm, response to light, adrenergic stimulation, and metabolism of melatonin in CBA mice. With the use of a sensitive and specific melatonin RIA, melatonin was detected in the pineal glands at all times of the d...

The activity of the enzyme serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) in the rat pineal gland exhibits a large circadian rhythm, with peak activity occurring at night. This rhythm is dependent on stimulation of the pineal gland by neurons whose cell bodies are in the superior cervical ganglia and whose axons reach the gland via the internal carotid nerves (ICNs). Two days after both ICN were cut, crus...

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor pathway is likely important in primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the brain. In fact, 10% to 15% of children born with RB mutations develop brain PNETs, commonly in the pineal gland. Cyclin D1, which in association with cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 4 and Cdk6 phosphorylates and inactivates the RB protein, is expressed in 40% of sporadic medullob...

Melatonin is an indoleamine derivative synthesised mainly in the pineal gland. Its association with periodontal disease and treatment exogenous supplementation of via oral route, topical application as local drug delivery has been documented evidences literature. This review article focuses on melatonin functions periodontium which includes its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiresorptive imm...

INTRODUCTION A recent study of the pineal gland of the rat found that the expression of more than 3000 genes showed significant day/night variations (The Hartley dataset). The investigators of this report made available a supplemental table in which they tabulated the expression of many genes that they did not discuss, including those coding for components of the ubiquitin proteasome system. He...

Circadian rhythms are daily cycles that control our sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, and body temperature, and are found in virtually all life forms. Because our internal clock runs just over 24 hours, our bodies set it to match day length using environmental cues such as light. Information about light levels travels from the eyes to a brain structure called the pineal gland, which adjusts...