title: Effect of stress and dexamethasone treatment on circadian rhythms of melatonin and corticosterone in ring dove (Streptopelia risoria).
abstract: The possible relationship between the circadian rhythm of blood levels of melatonin and corticosterone in ring dove (Streptopelia risoria) subjected to both immobilization stress and immobilization stress plus dexamethasone treatment were studied. The results show changes in the circadian rhythm of melatonin, with increased daytime levels in situations of stress accompanied by increased corticosterone levels. The highest blood melatonin levels over the 24 h of the study were obtained when the animals were treated with dexamethasone and then subjected to stress. Given the antioxidant role of melatonin, our results support the idea ofmelatonin-corticosterone coupling with the possibility that melatonin released in situations of stress counteracts the adverse effects of glucocorticoids on the organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain. cibars@unex.es
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barriga
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marchena
authors.forename: Robert William
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D008550:Melatonin; D003345:Corticosterone