title: Pineal 5-methoxytryptophol rhythms in the box turtle: effect of photoperiod and environmental temperature.
abstract: The effect of different photoperiods and temperatures on pineal 5-methoxytryptophol (ML) content was investigated in male box turtles, Terrapene carolina triunguis. A rhythm in pineal ML was evident in the long photoperiod (18 h light (L)-6 h dark (D] with high daytime levels of 178 +/- 48 pg/gland (means +/- S.E.M.) which dropped to 38 +/- 6 pg/gland during lights off. In the short photoperiod (8L:16D) no clearcut ML rhythm was observed. Diurnal (10.00-12.00 h) ML concentrations rose linearly (P less than 0.05) with increasing ambient temperatures (5, 15, 20 and 27 degrees C). Day/night differences in ML levels, however, were not significant. Pineal ML in the box turtle thus seems to be modified by the photoperiod and, to a lesser extent, by temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Skene
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vivien-Roels
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pevet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D007211:Indoles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014426:Turtles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; C002465:methoxytryptophol