Immunohistochemical demonstration of melatonin in the female mink harderian gland.
In the Harderian gland of the female mink, either intact or killed after a bilateral ablation of the cervical superior ganglion, almost all of the cells of the alveoli were immunolabeled with anti-melatonin antiserum. Animals were killed during the day or during the night. The immunolabelling was observed only in the cytoplasm, while the nucleus remained unstained. Using successive dilutions of the antiserum on serial sections of the Harderian gland to qualitate the melatonin content, a circadian rhythm of melatonin immunoreactivity was observed. The intensity of immunofluorescence labelling was higher in intact animals killed during the day than in those killed during the night. These results could be explained by the inhibitory or stimulatory influence of pineal melatonin released during the night on melatonin synthesis or release in the Harderian gland, respectively. In the Harderian gland of ganglionectomized animals, the intensity of melatonin immunofluorescence was lower than in intact animals killed during the day. It is concluded that the Harderian gland might be involved in the perception of the day/night cycle and that melatonin synthesis/secretion was likely controlled by the cervical superior ganglion in this organ.
Meusy-Dessolle
N
N
Laboratoire de Physiologie Sensorielle, INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Tillet
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D015171:Ganglionectomy; D006243:Harderian Gland / Q000737:chemistry*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008550:Melatonin / Q000032:analysis*; D008907:Mink
D008550:Melatonin