scholarly journals Diurnal Rhythm of Plasma Melatonin Concentration in the Domestic Turkey and Its Regulation by Light and Endogenous Oscillators

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Prusik ◽  
Bogdan Lewczuk

The aim of this study was to characterize the diurnal rhythm of plasma melatonin (MLT) concentration and its regulation by light and endogenous oscillators in 10-week-old domestic turkeys. Three experiments were performed to examine (i) the course of daily changes in plasma MLT concentration in turkeys kept under a 12 h light: 12 h dark (12L:12D) cycle; (ii) the influence of night-time light exposure lasting 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 h on the plasma MLT level; and (iii) the occurrence of circadian fluctuations in plasma MLT levels in birds kept under continuous dim red light and the ability of turkeys to adapt their pineal secretory activity to a reversed light-dark cycle (12D:12L). The plasma MLT concentration was measured with a direct radioimmunoassay. The plasma MLT concentration in turkeys kept under a 12L:12D cycle changed significantly in a daily rhythm. It was low during the photophase and increased stepwise after the onset of darkness to achieve the maximal level in the middle of the scotophase. Next, it decreased during the second half of the night. The difference between the lowest level of MLT and the highest level was approximately 18-fold. The exposure of turkeys to light during the scotophase caused a rapid, large decrease in plasma MLT concentration. The plasma MLT concentration decreased approximately 3- and 10-fold after 0.5 and 1 h of light exposure, respectively, and reached the day-time level after 2 h of exposure. In turkeys kept under continuous darkness, the plasma MLT level was approximately 2.5-fold higher at 02:00 h than at 14:00 h. In birds kept under 12D:12L, the plasma MLT level was significantly higher at 14:00 h than at 02:00 h. The results showed that plasma MLT concentrations in 10-week-old turkeys have a prominent diurnal rhythm, which is endogenously generated and strongly influenced by environmental light.

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1883) ◽  
pp. 20180989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wisse P. van der Meijden ◽  
Bart H. W. te Lindert ◽  
Jennifer R. Ramautar ◽  
Yishul Wei ◽  
Joris E. Coppens ◽  
...  

Environmental light can exert potent effects on physiology and behaviour, including pupil size, vigilance and sleep. Previous work showed that these non-image forming effects can last long beyond discontinuation of short -wavelength light exposure. The possible functional effects after switching off long -wavelength light, however, have been insufficiently characterized. In a series of controlled experiments in healthy adult volunteers, we evaluated the effects of five minutes of intense red light on physiology and performance during subsequent darkness. As compared to prior darkness, prior red light induced a subsequent sustained pupil dilation. Prior red light also increased subsequent heart rate and heart rate variability when subjects were asked to perform a sustained vigilance task during the dark exposure. While these changes suggest an increase in the mental effort required for the task, it could not prevent a post-red slowing of response speed. The suggestion that exposure to intense red light affects vigilance during subsequent darkness, was confirmed in a controlled polysomnographic study that indeed showed a post-red facilitation of sleep onset. Our findings suggest the possibility of using red light as a nightcap.


1985 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Vakkuri ◽  
H. Rintamäki ◽  
J. Leppäluoto

ABSTRACT The effect of midnight light exposure and pinealectomy on plasma and tissue concentrations of immunoreactive melatonin was studied in the pigeon. Light exposure of 80 min reduced plasma melatonin by 85%. The melatonin concentration fell to 50% of the original value during 12 min. Pinealectomy reduced plasma melatonin so that at midnight about 36 h after the operations the melatonin concentration of pinealectomized pigeons was about 55% of that of sham-operated pigeons. Two weeks after the operations plasma melatonin of pinealectomized pigeons had increased to 64% of that of sham-operated birds. At midday, melatonin levels were unaffected by the operations. The light–dark rhythm of plasma melatonin was also observed in pinealectomized pigeons. In tissue determinations pinealectomy was found to reduce hypothalamic melatonin significantly, suggesting that the pineal is the main source of hypothalamic melatonin. In the Harderian glands a significant increase of melatonin concentrations was observed after pinealectomy. These glands may therefore be the compensatory organs, explaining the presence of circulating melatonin after pinealectomy. J. Endocr. (1985) 105, 263–268


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Valtonen ◽  
A.-P. Kangas ◽  
M. Voutilainen ◽  
L. Eriksson

AbstractPeripheral concentrations of melatonin in the neonatal mammal are low and the diurnal rhythm is not apparent during the first days or weeks of life. Maternal milk provides a rhythmic although low source of melatonin to the newborn. Diurnal rhythm of serum melatonin was monitored in Friesian calves from birth to 4 weeks of age. Some of the calves under 1 week of age had no clear nocturnal elevation of serum concentrations of melatonin. Thereafter the nocturnal melatonin elevation was apparent in all calves and of the same amplitude as in adult cattle. The effect of oral intake of night-time milk or milk supplemented with low doses of synthetic melatonin was studied during day-time in a group of Ayrshire calves aged 1 to 5 weeks. Two and a half or 3 litres of night-time milk with a mean melatonin concentration of 40 pg/ml, providing 01 to 012 μg melatonin, did not cause any change in the day-time serum concentrations of melatonin, neither did addition of melatonin in doses up to 10 μg per animal. Only the highest dose of melatonin 200 μg in 2 l of milk (01 μg/ml) caused an elevation of day-time serum concentrations of melatonin. These studies show that the pineal gland of a very youg calf is functional and that the concentration of melatonin in blood does not reflect the concentration in milk at the time of feeding. The presence of melatonin in milk suggests, however, its potential significance for the neonate.


SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabra M Abbott ◽  
Jin Choi ◽  
John Wilson ◽  
Phyllis C Zee

Abstract Study Objectives The circadian system must perform daily adjustments to align sleep–wake and other physiologic rhythms with the environmental light–dark cycle: This is mediated primarily through melanopsin containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Individuals with delayed sleep–wake phase disorder (DSWPD) exhibit a delay in sleep–wake timing relative to the average population, while those with sighted non–24-hour sleep–wake rhythm disorder (N24SWD) exhibit progressive delays. An inability to maintain appropriate entrainment is a characteristic of both disorders. In this study, we test the hypothesis that individuals with DSWPD exhibit alteration in melanopsin-dependent retinal photo-transduction as measured with the postillumination pupil response (PIPR). Methods Twenty-one control and 29 participants with DSWPD were recruited from the community and clinic. Of the 29 DSWPD participants, 17 reported a history of N24SWD. A pupillometer was used to measure the PIPR in response to a bright 30-second blue or red-light stimulus. The PIPR was calculated as the difference in average pupil diameter at baseline and 10–40 seconds after light stimulus offset. Results The PIPR was significantly reduced in the DSWPD group when compared with the control group (1.26 ± 1.11 mm vs 2.05 ± 1.04 mm, p < 0.05, t-test). The PIPR was significantly reduced in the sighted N24SWD subgroup when compared with individuals with the history of only DSWPD (0.88 ± 0.58 mm vs 1.82 ± 1.44 mm, p < 0.05, analysis of variance [ANOVA]) or controls (0.88 ± 0.58 mm vs 2.05 ± 1.04 mm, p < 0.01, ANOVA). Conclusions These results indicate that reduced melanopsin-dependent retinal photo-transduction may be a novel mechanism involved in the development of DSWPD and sighted N24SWD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Ariyanti ◽  
Kazunori Ikebukuro ◽  
Koji Sode

Abstract Background The development of multiple gene expression systems, especially those based on the physical signals, such as multiple color light irradiations, is challenging. Complementary chromatic acclimation (CCA), a photoreversible process that facilitates the control of cellular expression using light of different wavelengths in cyanobacteria, is one example. In this study, an artificial CCA systems, inspired by type III CCA light-regulated gene expression, was designed by employing a single photosensor system, the CcaS/CcaR green light gene expression system derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, combined with G-box (the regulator recognized by activated CcaR), the cognate cpcG2 promoter, and the constitutively transcribed promoter, the PtrcΔLacO promoter. Results One G-box was inserted upstream of the cpcG2 promoter and a reporter gene, the rfp gene (green light-induced gene expression), and the other G-box was inserted between the PtrcΔLacO promoter and a reporter gene, the bfp gene (red light-induced gene expression). The Escherichia coli transformants with plasmid-encoded genes were evaluated at the transcriptional and translational levels under red or green light illumination. Under green light illumination, the transcription and translation of the rfp gene were observed, whereas the expression of the bfp gene was repressed. Under red light illumination, the transcription and translation of the bfp gene were observed, whereas the expression of the rfp gene was repressed. During the red and green light exposure cycles at every 6 h, BFP expression increased under red light exposure while RFP expression was repressed, and RFP expression increased under green light exposure while BFP expression was repressed. Conclusion An artificial CCA system was developed to realize a multiple gene expression system, which was regulated by two colors, red and green lights, using a single photosensor system, the CcaS/CcaR system derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, in E. coli. The artificial CCA system functioned repeatedly during red and green light exposure cycles. These results demonstrate the potential application of this CCA gene expression system for the production of multiple metabolites in a variety of microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria.


1999 ◽  
Vol 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Jones ◽  
R. Crucet ◽  
X. Deng ◽  
J. Doehler ◽  
R. Kopf ◽  
...  

AbstractUsing a Gas Jet thin film deposition technique, microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si) materials were prepared at rates as high as 15-20 Å/s. The technique involves the use of a gas jet flow that is subjected to a high intensity microwave source. The quality of the material has been optimized through the variation of a number of deposition conditions including the substrate temperature, the gas flows, and the applied microwave power. The best films were made using deposition rates near 16 Å/s. These materials have been used as i-layers for red light absorbing, nip single-junction solar cells. Using a 610nm cutoff filter which only allows red light to strike the device, pre-light soaked currents as high as 10 mA/cm2 and 2.2-2.3% red-light pre-light soaked peak power outputs have been obtained for cells with i-layer thicknesses near 1 micron. This compares with currents of 10-11 mA/cm2 and 4% initial red-light peak power outputs obtained for high efficiency amorphous silicon germanium alloy (a-SiGe:H) devices. The AM1.5 white light efficiencies for these microcrystalline cells are 5.9-6.0%. While the efficiencies for the a-SiGe:H cells degrade by 15-20% after long term light exposure, the efficiencies for the microcrystalline cells before and after prolonged light exposure are similar, within measurement error. Considering these results, the Gas Jet deposition method is a promising technique for the deposition of μc-Si solar cells due to the ability to achieve reasonable stable efficiencies for cells at i-layer deposition rates (16 Å/s) which make large-scale production economically feasible.


Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (12) ◽  
pp. 6336-6342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqiang Pang ◽  
Chunying Li ◽  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Shiming Wang ◽  
Wei Dong ◽  
...  

Environmental light is involved in the regulation of photochemical reaction in mouse retina. It remains unclear whether light-mediated increase in all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) synthesis in retina will result in altering the circulatory levels of ATRA and regulating downstream gene expression and physiological function. Here we showed circulatory levels of ATRA decreased in mice under constant darkness and elevated by light exposure. Fat gene pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (mPlrp2) and its partner procolipase (mClps), but not hepatic lipase (mHl), activated in livers for responding to lack of light illuminating. Light-triggered alterations in circulatory ATRA levels regulated ecto-5′-nucleotidase gene expression by retinoic acid receptor retinoic acid receptor-α and modulated 5′-AMP levels in blood and were associated with mPlrp2 and mClps expression in the livers. Mice deficient in adenosine receptors displayed mPlrp2 and mClps expression in livers under 12-h light, 12-h dark cycles. Caffeine blocked adenosine receptors and induced hepatic mPlrp2 and mClps expression in wild-type mice. Mice activated in hepatic mPlrp2 and mClps expression lowered hepatic and serum lipid levels and markedly elevated circulatory levels of all-trans retinol. Our results suggest environmental light influence hepatic lipid homeostasis by light-modulated retinoic acid signaling associated with mPlrp2 and mClps gene expression in livers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucélia Donatti ◽  
Edith Fanta

The Antarctic fish Trematomus newnesi (Boulenger, 1902) occurs from benthic to pelagic habitats, in seasonally and daily varied photic conditions that induce retinomotor movements. Fish were experimentally kept under constant darkness or light, and 12Light/12Dark for seven days. The retinomotor movement of the pigment epithelium was established through the pigment index, while that of the cones was calculated as the length of the myoid. The retinomotor movement of the pigment epithelium in T.newnesi,revealed that the adaptation to constant light occurred in the one hour of exposure, remaining constant for the next seven days. However, the adaptation to constant darkness, was slower. The difference between the mean values of the pigment indices in the time intervals of sampling was significant in the first hours of the experiment, and only after six hours they were not significant any more. The myoid of cones became elongated in darkness and contracted in light. In the experiments where T.newnesiwas exposed initially to 12 hours light followed by 12 hours darkness 12 was evidenced that the speed and intensity of the retinomotor movements was higher when darkness changed into light, than when light changed into darkness.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (5) ◽  
pp. R1111-R1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Depres-Brummer ◽  
F. Levi ◽  
G. Metzger ◽  
Y. Touitou

In a constant environment, circadian rhythms persist with slightly altered period lengths. Results of studies with continuous light exposure are less clear, because of short exposure durations and single-variable monitoring. This study sought to characterize properties of the oscillator(s) controlling the rat's circadian system by monitoring both body temperature and locomotor activity. We observed that prolonged exposure of male Sprague-Dawley rats to continuous light (LL) systematically induced complete suppression of body temperature and locomotor activity circadian rhythms and their replacement by ultradian rhythms. This was preceded by a transient loss of coupling between both functions. Continuous darkness (DD) restored circadian synchronization of temperature and activity circadian rhythms within 1 wk. The absence of circadian rhythms in LL coincided with a mean sixfold decrease in plasma melatonin and a marked dampening but no abolition of its circadian rhythmicity. Restoration of temperature and activity circadian rhythms in DD was associated with normalization of melatonin rhythm. These results demonstrated a transient internal desynchronization of two simultaneously monitored functions in the rat and suggested the existence of two or more circadian oscillators. Such a hypothesis was further strengthened by the observation of a circadian rhythm in melatonin, despite complete suppression of body temperature and locomotor activity rhythms. This rat model should be useful for investigating the physiology of the circadian timing system as well as to identify agents and schedules having specific pharmacological actions on this system.


2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (8) ◽  
pp. 1119-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadanobu Yoshikawa ◽  
Kenji Obayashi ◽  
Kimie Miyata ◽  
Tetsuo Ueda ◽  
Norio Kurumatani ◽  
...  

BackgroundGlaucoma may cause physiological and behavioural circadian misalignment because of the loss of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, the primary receptors of environmental light. Although studies have suggested a high prevalence of depression in patients with glaucoma, it is unclear whether the association is independent of the light exposure profiles as an important confounding factor.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study of a community-based cohort of 770 elderly individuals (mean age, 70.9 years), glaucomatous optic discs were assessed using fundus photographs and depressive symptoms were assessed using the short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Daytime and night-time ambient light exposures were objectively measured for 2 days.ResultsDepressive symptoms (GDS score ≥6) were observed in 114 participants (prevalence, 14.8%) and glaucomatous optic discs were detected in 40 participants (prevalence, 5.2%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher in the group with glaucomatous optic disc than in the group without it (30.0% vs 14.0%, respectively; p=0.005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounding factors, including daytime and night-time light exposures, revealed that the OR for depressive symptoms was significantly higher in the group with glaucomatous optic disc than in the group without it (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.18 to 5.08; p=0.016).ConclusionsIn this general elderly population, glaucomatous optic disc was significantly associated with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms independent of a number of potential confounding factors, including daily light exposure profiles.


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