Harderian Gland n-acetyltransferase activity in the male syrian hamster: Effects of gonadectomy, short photoperiod exposure, or subcutaneous melatonin implants

Arando Menendez-Pelaez, Russel J. Reiter, Kimberly A. Howes, Manuel Puig-Domingo, Mary K. Vaughan, Maureen E. Troiani, John C. Little

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The activities of NAT and HIOMT and the melatonin concentration in the Harderian glands of intact, gonadectomized, and gonadally-regressed male Syrian hamsters were studied. To produce gonadal regression, hamsters were exposed to either artificial or naturally short photoperiods. NAT activity of castrated and gonadally-regressed hamsters was always less in comparison to that of animals with intact gonads. Castrated hamsters exposed to long days showed higher NAT activity than that of castrated animals exposed to short photoperiods indicating that light may have some influence on Harderian NAT independent of the gonadal status. Also, gonadally-regressed hamsters exposed to long photoperiods exhibited higher NAT activity in comparison to gonadally-regressed animals exposed to short days. The HIOMT activity and melatonin content of Harderian glands in all these groups of male Syrian hamster were very low.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)121-130
Number of pages10
JournalEndocrine Research
Volume14
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

Keywords

  • Harderian gland
  • Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase
  • Male Syrian hamster
  • Melatonin
  • N-acetyltransferase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Harderian Gland n-acetyltransferase activity in the male syrian hamster: Effects of gonadectomy, short photoperiod exposure, or subcutaneous melatonin implants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this