title: Rapid adjustment of the pineal N-acetyltransferase rhythm to change from long to short photoperiod in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
abstract: The dynamics of adjusting the pineal N-acetyltransferase rhythm from long to short photoperiod was assessed in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The transition from LD 16:8 to LD 8:16 was accomplished by symmetrical prolongation of the dark period. In LD 16:8, the period of elevated nocturnal activity lasted approximately 7 hours. During the first prolonged night, the evening N-acetyltransferase rise advanced by almost 3 hours relative to the rise in LD 16:8 and occurred at the same time as during the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day after the transition. The morning N-acetyltransferase decline did not shift during the first long night; during the third night it was delayed relative to the decline in LD 16:8 by more than 2 hours and occurred at the same time as during the 7th and 14th night following the LD 16:8 to LD 8:16 transition. Three, 7, and 14 days after the transition, the period of elevated N-acetyltransferase activity lasted approximately 12 hours. Hence extension of the N-acetyltransferase rhythm profile proceeded first into the evening and then only into the morning hours, and it was accomplished within 2 to 3 days.
authors.affiliation: Poultry Research Institute Ivanka pri Dunaji, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Czechoslovakia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Illnerová
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003370:Coturnix / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D008027:Light; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000201:enzymology*; D011784:Quail / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000123:Acetyltransferases; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase