One millisecond of light suffices to suppress nighttime pineal melatonin synthesis in rats.
The effect of a single high-intensity light pulse with a duration of 1 ms on nighttime pineal activity of male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. 10 minutes after light exposure pineal N-actyltransferase activity and melatonin content were significantly reduced. These results show that the rat pineal is capable of responding to very short light flashes of high intensity.
Vollrath
L
L
Institute of Anatomy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, F.R.G.
Seidel
A
A
Huesgen
A
A
Manz
B
B
Pollow
K
K
Leiderer
P
P
D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
D000123:Acetyltransferases; D008550:Melatonin