Melatonin, insulin and adrenaline in the blood of rabbit kits that survived prenatal hypoxia: Hormone dynamics at physical exertion

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to study the dynamics of melatonin, insulin and adrenaline in the blood of rabbit kits (prior and subsequent to prenatal hypoxia) at various stages of fetal growth and development, as well as to study the ability of kits to withstand physical exertion of various intensity and duration in light and darkness. This research shows that the melatonin level decreases with increasing insulin, and increases with decreasing insulin in animals of different ages kept under conditions of constant light and constant darkness, whereas the level of adrenaline decreases at physical exertion, but increases with a decrease in melatonin. This research confirms the inverse relationship between the levels of melatonin and insulin and between the levels of melatonin and adrenaline. Kits kept in constant darkness showed increased melatonin levels, which, by contrast, decreased under conditions of constant light.