Immunoreactive levels of pineal arginine vasopressin change during the rat estrous cycle.
It has been reported that mammalian pineal activity is influenced by reproductive hormones. However, even though a relationship between serum estrogen levels and pineal indole metabolism is well documented, little is known about other pineal components. Among peptides, arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been identified in the pineal gland of several species. In the present work, variations of immunoreactive (IR)-AVP in the rat pineal during the estrous cycle were studied by radioimmunoassay. Pineal IR-AVP levels increased significantly at the proestrus afternoon, and returned to basal levels by the end of estrus. These variations were partially related to those of serum estradiol concentration. Although the functional role of AVP in the rat pineal has not been clearly elucidated, these findings provide an additional indication that it might be involved in the reproductive function of the female rat.
Moujir
F
F
Department of Physiology, University of La Laguna School of Medicine, Tenerife, Spain.
Sanchez-Franco
F
F
Santana
C
C
Cacicedo
L
L
Alonso
R
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004971:Estrus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone