Diurnal changes in the content of indoleamines, catecholamines, and methoxyindoles in the pineal gland of the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus): effect of photoperiod.

Previous studies in Syrian hamster have shown that the correlations between the daily fluctuations in the contents of pineal indoleamines and methoxyindoles are influenced by the photoperiod, and that dopamine may play a role in the regulation of pineal function. The present study investigated the 24 hour changes in the content of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), N-acetylserotonin (NAS), melatonin, 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MT), noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the pineal gland of female Djungarian hamsters exposed to long (LP; LD 16:8) or short (SP; LD 10:14) photoperiods for 10 weeks. Pronounced nocturnal increases of N-acetylserotonin and melatonin content were observed irrespective of the photoperiod regime. The content of 5-HT was markedly decreased during the first hour of the night in LP, which contrasted with the lack of changes in NAS and melatonin content at this time. In SP, an increased 5-HTP content and a less obvious decrease in 5-HT content was observed during the night, although melatonin and NAS content were even higher than in LP. Similar daily patterns as for 5-HT were observed in the 5-HT oxidative metabolites (5-HIAA and 5-MT). When considering values throughout the day, a poor correlation for 5-HT vs.. NAS and melatonin content was observed, which was particularly evident during the nighttime. These data indicate that the daily variation of pineal indoles may not only be dependent on changes in the N-acetyltransferase activity but also in other mechanisms regulating pinealocyte 5-HT availability. As previously reported in other species of hamster, pineal NA content did not show daily variations in LP conditions, although a nocturnal increase was detected in SP. In contrast, pronounced nocturnal increases were observed in the content of DA and its acid metabolite, DOPAC, irrespective of the photoperiod. These data indicate the existence of an increased dopaminergic turnover during the night and further support a role for DA in the regulation of melatonin synthesis and in the synchronization of the pineal functions.