Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5 Pt 1
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-12-14
pubmed:abstractText
This study was conducted to determine the origin of the high variability in the mean nocturnal plasma melatonin concentration (MC) in sheep. Two extreme groups of 25 lambs each [low (L) and high (H)] were obtained by calculating their genetic value on the basis of the MC of their parents. The MC of lambs was significantly higher in the H group than in the L group (L: 189.7 +/- 24.4 vs. H: 344.1 +/- 33.0 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Within each group, 13 lambs were slaughtered during the day (D) and 12 lambs during the night (N). Pineal weight was significantly higher in the H group than in the L group (L: 83.5 +/- 6.7 vs. H: 119.1 +/- 9.2 mg, P < 0.01) but did not differ between D and N. The amount of melatonin released in vitro per milligram of pineal gland, the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) activity, the AANAT protein content, and the level of AANAT mRNA differed significantly between D and N but not with genetic group. Hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase activity did not differ significantly between D and N or between genetic groups. Therefore, the genetic difference in MC between the two groups of lambs was attributed to a difference in pineal size, not in enzymatic activity of the pinealocytes.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0002-9513
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
277
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
E792-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-11-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Genetic variability in plasma melatonin in sheep is due to pineal weight, not to variations in enzyme activities.
pubmed:affiliation
Section on Neuroendocrinology, Laboratory of Developmental Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't