Pineal, Photoperiod and Gonadal Function in the Indian Palm Squirrel, Funambulus pennanti.
Effects of morning and evening injections of pineal 5-methoxyindoles (MI), melatonin (aMT) and 5-methoxytryptamine (MT), for 60 continuous days, were observed on the testes of sham-operated (SO) and pinealectomized (Px) Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti maintained under different photoperiods during the gonad active phase. Long photoperiod (LP) of 14L:10D appeared stimulatory to the testes and caused a significant increase in the weight and seminiferous tubule diameter of both SO and Px animals, as compared to the animals under natural day-length (NDL). Short photoperiod (SP) of 10L:14D had an inhibitory influence and reduced the testes weight and its tubule diameter. aMT and MT injections during evening hours significantly reduced testes weight and tubule diameter of SO and Px animals under NDL, LP and SP. However morning injections, under all conditions, were without any significant effect. The results suggest an inhibitory effect of aMT and MT, under above photoperiodic conditions, on the testes of this tropical mammal. The time of administration of the MI is important in the expression of the effect.
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