title: A diurnal rhythm of N-acetylserotonin in the retina of rats.
abstract: Diurnal variation of N-acetylserotonin in the retina was studied in male rats housed under a photoperiod of 12 h light and 12 h darkness (lights on at 06.00 h) for two weeks. N-acetylserotonin was extracted from the retina by ethyl acetate at pH less than or equal to 3 and was determined by radioimmunoassay. There is a diurnal rhythm of N-acetylserotonin in the retina with high at night and low in the daytime. It is suggested that N-acetylserotonin in the retina may contribute partly to the levels of circulating N-acetylserotonin and may play a role in the regulation of photomechanical changes in the eye of rats.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; C006389:N-acetylserotonin