Harderian Glands Of Male Hamsters Research Articles

Chronic N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Administration Prevents Melatonin-Associated Changes in Cell Differentiation in the Harderian Glands of Male Hamsters

The daily administration of 25 micrograms of melatonin for 10 weeks resulted in an increase in the percentage of Type II cells in the Harderian glands of male Syrian hamsters. Harderian glands of melatonin injected animals consisted of 65-70% Type II cells while control animals which were injected with saline had 40% Type II secretory cells. The daily administration of 3 mg of the glutamate receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) prevented the effects of melatonin on cell differentiation but was without effect when administered to saline treated hamsters alone. Both the relative number of mitoses and the number of total cells, estimated by counting the nuclei, was not affected. Thus, a conversion from Type I to Type II cells seems possible. The effects of melatonin and NMDA administration were independent of the serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and thyroxine, hormones which have been implicated in Type II cell differentiation. However, prolactin levels, which were affected by melatonin and NMDA administration, might be involved in the differentiation of Harderian gland secretory cells.

Porphyrin metabolism in the harderian glands of Syrian hamsters: in vivo regulation by testicular hormones, lighting conditions, pineal gland, and pituitary hormones.

The porphyrin concentration in the harderian glands of male hamsters subjected to several endocrine manipulations was studied. Prolonged bilateral gonadectomy resulted in a marked increase in harderian porphyrin concentration. This change was not prevented by either pinealectomy or by constant white light exposure. Castrated hamsters exposed to constant red light showed higher porphyrin concentrations than castrated hamsters kept under white light. Among several hormones studied, serum luteinizing hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were unexpectedly higher in the constant red light exposed group than in the other groups. In order to test whether luteinizing hormone was involved in the postcastrational rise in harderian porphyrins, we administered a potent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist. The chronic administration of the LHRH agonist resulted in a decrease in serum luteinizing hormone (because it desensitized the LHRH receptors on the gonadotropes) and, consequently, in serum testosterone levels. However, no rise in harderian porphyrin was observed. It is concluded that the absence of testicular hormones might not be the triggering factor involved in harderian porphyrogenesis.

Effects of Short‐Day Photoperiods and of N‐(2,4‐Dinitrophenyl)‐5‐Methoxytryptamine, a Putative Melatonin Antagonist, on Melatonin Synthesis in the Harderian Gland of the Syrian Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus

The Harderian glands of Syrian hamsters contain melatonin and the enzymes N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) which synthesize melatonin from serotonin. Because the Harderian glands share this metabolic pathway with the pineal gland, we examined the effects of short-day photoperiods, which stimulate pineal-mediated gonadal regression, and N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-methoxytryptamine (ML-23), which has been described as a melatonin antagonist, on melatonin synthesis in the Harderian glands of the hamster. Harderian glands of male hamsters kept in short days had reduced NAT activity and melatonin concentration, but HIOMT activity was unchanged from that of long-day controls. In males kept in short days, ML-23 restored melatonin concentrations to levels seen in long days but did not affect the short-day induced reduction in NAT activity. ML-23 had no effect upon NAT or HIOMT activity or melatonin concentration in male hamsters kept on long days. Harderian glands of female hamsters kept on short days had reduced melatonin concentrations, but NAT and HIOMT activities similar to those of long-day controls. ML-23 had no effect on Harderian NAT or HIOMT activities or melatonin concentration in females kept in short days. However, in females kept in long days, ML-23 treatment led to increased NAT activity and decreased melatonin concentrations. We conclude from these results that short-day photoperiods alter some aspects of melatonin synthesis in hamster Harderian glands and that these effects differ in males and females. ML-23 does not usually prevent the effects of short days on Harderian melatonin synthesis, suggesting that it is not a melatonin antagonist in the Syrian hamster.

Concentrations of metals in the Harderian glands of male and female hamsters

1. 1. Harderian glands of male hamsters possess lower concentrations of Na, Mn and Ca and higher concentrations of Fe and Mo than those of females. 2. 2. Pinealectomy has little influence on metallic concentrations in these glands. 3. 3. Gonadectomy increases concentrations of Na, Cu and Mn in the male and Fe in the female and decreases Mo in the male. 4. 4. Blinding decreases Zn in both sexes and Mn in the female and increases Ca in the male and Cu and Mo in the female. 5. 5. The data strongly suggest that Mo is associated with cell type II in the male and Mn with cell type I in both males and females.