title: The interaction of the thyroid gland, pineal gland and immune system in chicken.
abstract: The interaction of immunological system, thyroid and pineal gland was studied in 5-week old males of Gallus domesticus. Several morphometrical parameters in pineal and thyroid glands were measured after bird immunization with human red blood cells and/or treatment with melatonin or seduxen, melatonin receptor blocker. The peak of the thyroid activity was found on Day 7 after immunization. The immune system appears to directly activate the thyroid gland only in the presence of certain level of melatonin. We suggest that the melatonin mechanism of action includes the enhancement of thyroid gland sensitivity to immune factors. Seduxen prevented the stimulatory influence of the immune system on the thyroid gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytology, Histology and Development Biology, Taras Shevchenko National University, Vladimirskaya st., 64, Kiev 01033 Ukraine. ass_vr@biocc.univ.kiev.ua
authors.forename: Mykola E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dzerzhynsky
authors.forename: Olga I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Gorelikova
authors.forename: Andriy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pustovalov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin; D003975:Diazepam