Pineal melatonin rhythm: Reduction in aging syrian hamsters

Russel J. Reiter, Bruce A. Richardson, Linda Y. Johnson, Bonnie N. Ferguson, Diep T. Dinh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

232 Scopus citations

Abstract

The melatonin content measured by radioimmunoassay of the pineal gland over a 24-hour period (a light: dark cycle of 14 hours of light and 10 of darkness) was compared in young and old female and male Syrian hamsters. The young animals of both sexes exhibited roughly an eightfold rise in pineal melatonin during the dark phase of the cycle, whereas in the old hamsters the nocturnal rise in melatonin was almost completely absent. The results indicate a marked drop in pineal biosynthetic activity in the aging hamster.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1372-1373
Number of pages2
JournalScience
Volume210
Issue number4476
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1980

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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