title: Photoperiodic modulation of local melatonin synthesis and its role in regulation of thymic homeostasis in Funambulus pennanti.
abstract: The effect of photo-neuroendocrine system on the thymic (immune) functions is mediated by gonadal steroid and the pineal hormone melatonin. The present study explored the effect of photoperiod on the thymic melatonergic system and its role in protection of thymic T-cells from the testosterone induced seasonal oxidative stress and apoptosis. Exposure to long day-length (LD) was noted to decrease local (thymic) melatonin content and induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in the thymus. Increased peripheral level of testosterone upregulated the androgen receptor expression and, consequently reduced proliferation response of the thymocytes. Short day conditions (SD) however, reversed the effect of LD on the thymic physiology. Low level of testosterone was concomitant with diminished nitro-oxidative stress and decreased expression of redox sensitive factors (NF-κB, p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio) in the thymus. SD retarded activation of caspase-3 resulting in procaspase-3 accumulation. Further, in vitro treatment of thymocytes with AR antagonist flutamide impaired the sensitivity of thymocytes to androgen and reversed the deleterious effects of testosterone on the proliferative and apoptotic responses of thymocytes. Therefore, it can be suggested that thymus derived melatonin protects thymic T-cells from testosterone induced seasonal oxidative stress, apoptosis and also acts as a potent paracrine factor for maintenance of redox status to ensure thymocyte survival.
authors.affiliation: Pineal Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. Electronic address: sameer1809@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Pineal Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. Electronic address: chaldar2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chandana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haldar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017440:Photoperiod; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Apoptosis; Oxidative stress; Seasonal breeder; Testosterone; Thymus; Tissue melatonin