Modification of Hypothalamic Electrical Activity by Pineal Indoles (original) (raw)

1983

Abstract

In a number of mammalian species, the pineal gland has been shown to mediate the inhibitory effects of short photoperiods on the secretion of several pituitary hormones. Although most studies have centred on gonadotropin secretion, in the last twenty five years there have been reports which have provided evidence for pineal-mediated inhibition of the production and release of each of the adenohypophyseal hormones (see review Mess et al., 1979). The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a highly photosensitive species, in which the pineal can readily be shown to exert a dramatic and potent influence on the release of luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (Reiter, 1980). Light restriction, obtained by blinding hamsters or placing them in continuous darkness or short photoperiod, results in reproductive involution. In males, after 50 days of light restriction, the testes are reduced to less than 20% of their original weight and do not produce spe...

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