Melatonin content of the pineal, parietal eye and blood plasma of the lizard, Trachydosaurus rugosus: effect of constant and fluctuating temperature.
Lizards acclimated to a light cycle accompanied by a thermocycle of 30 degrees C/15 degrees C had a more robust rhythm in pineal and plasma melatonin levels than those acclimated to constant 30 degrees C. At constant 15 degrees C, the melatonin rhythm was abolished entirely. A similar thermosensitivity in melatonin content was found in the parietal eye, indicating that this photoreceptive structure may also be capable of synthesising methoxyindoles.
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013696:Temperature
D008550:Melatonin