Abstract
MELATONIN (5-methoxy N-acetyltryptamine) has been found to be highly localized in the pineal bodies of a number of mammalian species1,2. The melatonin synthesizing enzyme (hydroxyindole-O-methyl transferase (HIOMT)) has also been found in all mammals examined3, and is present only in the pineal gland4. Evidence has been presented demonstrating that melatonin is secreted by the mammalian pineal and acts on the gonads5. This communication describes the enzymatic synthesis of melatonin in a class other than the mammal: birds. It further demonstrates that the synthesis of melatonin is influenced by lighting, which also affects the bird gonads6.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Lerner, A. B., Case, J. D., and Heinzelman, R. V., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 81, 6084 (1959).
Prop, N., and Kappers, J. A., Acta Anatomica, 45, 90 (1961).
Axelrod, J., and Weissbach, H., J. Biol. Chem., 236, 3072 (1961).
Axelrod, J., MacLean, P. D., Albers, R. W., and Weissbach, H., in Regional Neurochemistry, edit. by Kety, S. S., and Elkes, J., 307 (Pergamon Press, New York, 1961).
Wurtman, R. J., Axelrod, J., and Chu, E. W., Science, 141, 277 (1963).
Wolfson, A., in Advances in Neuroendocrinology, edit. by Nalbandov, A. V., 402 (Univ. Illinois Press, Urbana, 1963).
Wurtman, R. J., Axelrod, J., and Phillips, L., Science, 142, 1071 (1963).
Fiske, V. M., Endocrinol., 29, 187 (1941).
Wurtman, R. J., and Axelrod, J., Biochem. Pharmacol., 12, 1439 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
AXELROD, J., WURTMAN, R. & WINGET, C. Melatonin Synthesis in the Hen Pineal Gland and its Control by Light. Nature 201, 1134 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/2011134a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2011134a0
This article is cited by
-
Functional or Vestigial? The Genomics of the Pineal Gland in Xenarthra
Journal of Molecular Evolution (2021)
-
Dependence of nighttime sleep duration in one-month-old infants on alterations in natural and artificial photoperiod
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Expression of neuron-specific enolase in the pineal organ of the domestic fowl during post-hatching development
Cell & Tissue Research (1995)
-
Long-term effects of constant light or darkness on chicken pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase expression: biochemical and cellular aspects
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (1992)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.