title: Cell physiology of the pineal body.
abstract: The results from recent experiments on the cellular physiology of the trout pineal photoreceptors are briefly reviewed. The arguments are mainly concerned with pineal phototransduction. These studies have stimulated further research on melatonin, a molecule produced in pineal as well as in retinal photoreceptors. A discussion follows on our actual research object, that is a study of the influences of endogenous melatonin upon retinal receptor cells activities.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica, Università di Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Marchiafava
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kusmic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Longoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strettoi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin; D002118:Calcium