Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-11-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundo de Auxílio aos docentes e Alunos (FADA) / Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Neurociência Translacional (INCT-INNT) / Cooperação Interinstitucional de Apoio a Pesquisas sobre o Cérebro (CInAPCe) / A epilepsia é um distúrbio que afeta o Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC), sendo a Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal (ELT) a forma mais freqüente dentre as epilepsias focais em adultos, representando 40% de todos os casos. Sua incidência é de 1-2% da população mundial, com destaque para o sexo feminino por apresentar certas peculiaridades, como ciclo menstrual e período gestacional. Alterações nos níveis dos hormônios sexuais estrógeno e progesterona podem interferir no curso da epilepsia. A produção e liberação destes hormônios são influenciadas pela melatonina, um hormônio sincronizador do ritmo circadiano, e protetor do SNC. Desta forma, uma alteração nos níveis de melatonina poderia interferir na produção dos hormônios esteróides, e influenciar na excitabilidade do SNC. Objetivo: estudar o efeito da pinealectomia na epileptogênese em ratas Wistar adultas, com ciclo estral regular, submetidas ao modelo experimental da pilocarpina, através de análise comportamental e morfológica. Método: 4 grupos: SAL– fêmeas controle (n=5); PNTX+SAL– animais pinealectomizados e que receberam solução salina (n=5); PILO– animais que receberam pilocarpina (n=46); PNTX+PILO– animais pinealectomizados e que receberam pilocarpina (n=47). Os animais do grupo PILO e PNTX+PILO foram vídeo-monitorados por 60 dias após a primeira crise espontânea para estudo dos parâmetros comportamentais e então, perfundidos para técnica de neo-Timm. Resultados: os animais pinealectomizados apresentaram maior freqüência na fase de estro. Os animais PNTX+PILO tiveram diminuição nos períodos de latência para ocorrência da primeira crise após administração de pilocarpina, para ocorrência do SE e ocorrência da primeira crise espontânea, quando comparado com o grupo PILO. A mortalidade durante o SE foi maior no grupo PNTX+PILO, no entanto, a mortalidade por crise tônica foi maior no grupo PILO. Também foi maior no grupo PILO a porcentagem de animais que evoluíram para o SE. Quanto a freqüência de crises e ao grau de brotamento de fribras musgosas, não observamos diferença entre os grupos. Conclusão: A pinealectomia além de promover alterações no ciclo estral da rata, de maneira diferente daquela observada em ratas não pinealectomizadas e submetidas ao modelo da pilocarpina, promove uma epileptogênese menos intensa do que aquela vista em machos pinealectomizados, ou até mesmo em fêmeas intactas ou castradas. / Epilepsy is a disorder that affects Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is among the most frequent t ypes of epilepsy representing 40% all cases. Its incidence is 1-2% of the world-w ide population, with prominence for the female sex by presenting peculiarities such as menstrual cycle and gestational period. Alterations in the levels of sexual hormone s estrogen and progesterone can intervene with the course of the epilepsy. The prod uction and release of these hormones are influenced by melatonin a hormone that synchronize the circadian rhythms and promote the protection of the CNS. In t his context alteration in the melatonin levels could intervene with the productio n of sexual hormones and promote alterations in the excitability of the CNS. Objective: In order to study the effects of pinealectomy in the development of the p ilocarpine model of epilepsy in adult female rats, the behavioral and morphological aspects were analyzed. Method : Animals were divided in four groups: SAL - female control (n=5); PNTX+SAL - Pinealectomized animals that received saline (n=5); PILO - Animals that received pilocarpine (n=46); PNTX+PILO - Pinealectomized animals that received pilocarpine (n=47). The animals of PILO and PNTX+PILO groups we re video-monitored 24h/day during 60 days in order to observe the latency to t he first seizure and seizure frequency. After this period the animals were kille d and the brain sections were neo- Timm stained. Results: The pinealectomized animals presented a higher fre quency of the proestrus phase in the estrous cycle. The a nimals of PNTX+PILO group presented a reduced period of latency to occurrence of the first seizure after pilocarpine administration and to occurrence of status epilepticus (SE), as well as, a reduced silent phase when compared with animals of the PILO group. The mortality during SE was increased in PNTX+PILO group, however , the mortality by seizure tonic was increased in the PILO group and this grou p presented an increase rate of animals that evolved to SE. About seizure frequenc y and mossy fiber sprouting we do not observe difference between the groups. Conclusion: Our data showed that the pinealectomy promotes alterations in the estrou s cycle of the female rats in different aspects when compared with female rats no t pinealectomized submitted to the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. On the other han d a less intense epileptogenesis was observed in this rats when compared with castra ted and intact females rats or pinealectomized males rats. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

O objetivo geral da presente tese é testar a hipótese que a pineal faz parte integrante da resposta ao estresse, da mesma forma que está integrada ao processo inflamatório. Dois modelos de estresse, contenção e frio, foram aplicados aos ratos por 30 min ou 2 horas. Os resultados foram: ausência de úlceras gástricas e TNF em nível sérico por ambos os estresses, apenas aumento de corticosterona; somente em duas horas qualquer um dos estresses aumentou significativamente melatonina da pineal; tratamento tanto com metirapona como com mifepristone aboliram indistintamente os efeitos dos estresses; tratamento tanto com talidomida como com fenilefrina não modificaram os efeitos dos estresses. Concluímos que, o estresse moderado agudo, pela ação da corticosterona, promove modulação da pineal na dependência do estado fisiológico da mesma. Confirmamos a existência de uma relação entre as glândulas adrenais e pineal. Afirmamos que a glândula pineal exerce, além de suas clássicas funções cronobióticas, um papel de grande sensor do estado geral ao organismo inteiro. / The objective of this thesis is to test the hypothesis that the pineal is a player on stress response, likewise that it is one player in inflammatory process. Two stress models, restraint and cold, were applied to the rats for 30 min or 2 hous. The results were: absence of gastric ulcers and TNF serum levels in both stresses, just enhancement of corticosterone plasma levels; only in two hours anyone stress increased significantly pineal melatonin; metyrapone or mifepristone treatment abolish indistinctly the effects of the stresses; thalidomide or phenylephrine treatment did not modify the effects of the stresses. We conclude that the acute moderate stress by the corticosterone action promote modulation of pineal on the dependence of the physiological status of itself. We confirm the existence of a network between the adrenal and pineal glands. We affirm that the pineal gland performs, beyond of its chronobiotical classical functions, one role of the great sensor of internal body state to the whole organism.

O metabolismo energético é dependente, dentre outros fatores, de uma temporização circadiana entre os tecidos participantes da regulação metabólica. O processo de sincronização parece depender da expressão dos genes relógio e de mediadores como a melatonina, que associam o oscilador central e os osciladores periféricos. Investigamos o papel da melatonina na expressão dos genes relógio em tecidos periféricos, onde ratos Wistar foram divididos em dois grupos: pinealectomizados e controle. Após 45 dias os animais foram sacrificados circadianamente e seus tecidos de interesse extraídos para análise através do PCR convencional. A pinealectomia ocasionou significativa desorganização temporal na expressão de quase todos os genes relógios dos tecidos muscular e do adiposo periepididimal. O tecido hepático foi o que menos sofreu alterações pela pinealectomia. Em conclusão, esses dados mostram que a melatonina é necessária para manutenção da ritmicidade dos genes relógio no tecido muscular estriado esquelético, no tecido adiposo periepididimal e no tecido hepático. / The energy metabolism is dependent, between other factors, of a circadian timing among the tissues participants of the metabolic regulation. The synchronization process appears to depend on the expression of clock genes and mediators such as melatonin, involving the central oscillator and peripheral oscillators. We have investigated the role of melatonin in the expression of clock genes in peripheral tissues. Rats have been divided into two groups: pinealectomized and control rats. After 45 days the animals were sacrificed and their tissues of interest have been extracted for analysis by conventional PCR. Pinealectomy caused a significant disruption in the temporal expression of almost all genes of muscle tissue and fat tissue. The liver tissue was the least affected by changes of pinealectomy. In conclusion, these data show that melatonin is necessary for maintaining the rhythmicity of clock genes in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver tissue.

The synthesis of the pineal hormone, melatonin, is finely regulated by the pineal enzyme serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT). In the absence of light, the activity of NAT is markedly enhanced by the release of nor-adrenaline from sympathetic nerve endings in the pineal. Exposure of animals to light during darkness causes a sudden and dramatic reduction in the activity of NAT. The present study investigated a possible mechanism for this sudden decline in NAT activity. These investigations included the determination of the effects of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), adenosine nucleotides and calcium on NAT activity. In vitro experiments using SAM showed that pineals pre-incubated with SAM prior to adrenergic stimulation did not significantly alter NAT activity or pineal indoleamine metabolism. However, measurement of pineal cyclic AMP showed that SAM exposure reduced the adrenergic-induced rise in pineal cyclic AMP. Experiments using adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP) showed that this nucleotide enhanced both dark- and isoproterenol-induced NAT activity. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (A TP), on the other hand, reduced NAT activity with a concomitant reduction in pineal indoleamine metabolism. Exposure of isoproterenol-stimulated pineals in organ culture to propranolol resulted in a marked rise in ATP and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) synthesis accompanied by a decline in 5'-AMP levels as compared with pineals treated with isoproterenol alone. This then implies that exposure of animals to light could cause a change in pineal nucleotide levels. Since nucleotide levels are also controlled by calcium, experiments were carried out to determine the effect of calcium on pineal NAT activity. These experiments showed that ethyleneglycol-bis-N,N,N,N,-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) enhanced NAT activity whilst calcium reduced the activity in pineal homogenates, implying that calcium may act directly on NAT to regulate its activity. Exposure of pineal glands in organ culture to the calmodulin antagonist R24571 caused a rise in pineal cyclic AMP levels with a concomitant decrease in cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity. This was, however, accompanied by a decline in Nacetyl serotonin and melatonin synthesis. These findings implicate a number of factors in the regulation of pineal NAT activity. A mechanism for the regulation of pineal NAT is proposed.

The rat pineal gland provides a convenient model for investigating nor adrenergic receptor neurotransmission and the effects of various drugs on these processes in health and disease. The effect of a variety of antidepressant drugs on rat pineal gland function following acute and chronic administration is described. Antidepressants from several different classes increase melatonin synthesis in rat pineal gland cultures when administered acutely. This effect appears to be mediated by noradrenaline acting on postsynaptic β-adrenoceptors. Activation of these receptors, in turn, activates the enzyme serotonin N-acetyltransferase via a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) second messenger system. Serotonin N-acetyltransferase catalyses the rate-limiting conversion of serotonin to melatonin. Blockade of postsynaptic β-adrenoceptors prevents the antidepressant-induced increase in melatonin synthesis. The possibility that atypical antidepressants as well as those that selectively inhibit serotonin reuptake may increase melatonin synthesis via a β-adrenoceptor mechanism is discussed. In contrast, however, antidepressants from different classes have variable effects on rat pineal gland function when administered repeatedly. Chronic treatment with antidepressants that selectively inhibit noradrenaline reuptake appear to down-regulate the β-adrenoceptor system while, simultaneously, increasing melatonin output. Atypical antidepressants and those that selectively inhibit serotonin reuptake appear to be without these effects when administered repeatedly. The pineal gland of normal rats may therefore not represent a suitable model for evaluating the biochemical effects of chronic antidepressant treatment. In an attempt to investigatc pineal gland function in rats with "model depression" , antidepressants were administered to chronically reserpinized rats. Treatment with reserpine produced an increase in the density of pineal β-adrenoceptors. In addition, pineal cyclic AMP accumulation and N-acetyltransferase activity were increased in reserpinized rats following exogenous catecholamine stimulation. Reserpine, by depleting intraneuronal catecholamine stores, prevented the nocturnal induction of N-acetyltransferase activity and reduced the synthesis of melatonin in pineal gland cultures. A variety of antidepressants, irrespective of their acute pharmacological actions, reversed these effects when administered chronically to resepinized rats. Acute antidepressant administration was not associated with a reversal of the reserpine-induced effects. These findings provide additional evidence against the hypothesis that antidepressant drugs act by reducing noradrenergic neurotransmission and casts doubt on the importance of β-adrenoceptor down-regulation in the mechanism of antidepressant action. The possibility that the pineal gland of the reserpinized rat may represent an alternative model for evaluating antidepressant therapies is discussed.

The effect of tricyclic antidepressants (TADs) on a variety of pineal functions was assessed. TADs affected the uptake of ³H-5HT into bovine pineal slices within a particular concentration range of these drugs, DESI, CLOMI and IMI appeared to inhibit uptake slightly, within a limited concentration range. Surprisingly, DESI appeared to be a relatively potent 5HT uptake inhibitor. The 5-HT re-uptake system in the pineal probably differes from that in brain tissue. TADs had a marked effect on the metabolism of ³H-5HT in the rat pineal, in an organ culture system, MEL and N-acetylserotonin synthesis increased for the first 11 days and thereafter a slight decrease was observed. HTOH and HIAA also showed an initial increase followed by a slight decrease in synthesis. The synthesis of MTOH and MIAA was decreased. The possibility that TADs could affect HIOMT and SNAT synthesis and thereby change the metabolic pattern of 5-HT was investigated. TADs appeared to stimulate SNAT initially and thereafter a slight decrease from peak activity was observed. This is probably due to stimulation followed by development of subsensitivity of β-receptors, HIOMT activity also appeared to be affected by TADs. The existence of two types of HIOMT is suggested. There is a possibility that these changes in the metabolism of 5-HT could be implicated in the mechanism of action of TADs. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in

The mammalian pineal gland is mainly innervated by the sympathetic nervous system which modulates the activity of indole pathway enzymes and the secretion of pineal hormones. Recently researchers have demonstrated and characterized the presence of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the pineal gland. However the role of these receptors remains unclear. In an attempt to investigate the role of cholinergic receptors in the pineal gland, a number of studies were carried out on the various steps in the indole metabolic pathway, using various agents which act on the cholinergic system. Investigations using pineal organ cultures showed that stimulation of these muscarinic cholinergic receptor sites with a parasympathomimetic agent, a rise in levels of aHT occurred without a concomitant increase in aMT levels. Further organ culture experiments using the cholinergic agonist acetylcholine and anticholinesterase agent physostigmine, produced a similar rise in aHT without altering aMT levels. This acetylcholine-induced rise in aHT levels were not altered by the ganglion blocking agent hexamethonium whilst the antimuscarinic agent atropine prevented the acetylcholine-induced rise in aHT levels. Thesefindings suggest that cholinergic agents may play a role in regulating indoleamine synthesis in the pineal gland. Cyclic-AMP assay studies showed that acetylcholine increases pineal cAMP levels significantly and does not influence the isoproterenol-induced cAMP rise in the pineal gland. The cAMP regulator cAMP-phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) was found to increase significantly in the presence of the anticholinesterase agent physostigmine. NAT enzyme studies revealed that physostigmine does not affect NAT enzyme levels significantly and HIOMT studies showed that this agent does not inhibit HIOMT activity. The mechanism by which acetylcholine and physostigmine are able to cause a increase in aHT and not aMT levels needs to be researched further. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme assay studies revealed that the AChE enzyme undergoes a diurnal rhythm in the pineal gland with activity being higher during the day and lower at night. Investigations using the drug reserpine showed that this rhythm is not under the control of the sympathetic nervous system. Further research needs to be done however, in determining whether or not this enzyme is present in the pineal gland to regulate the levels of acetylcholine interacting with muscarinic receptors in the gland, or for some other reason. Choline acetyltransferase studies demonstrate the presence of the enzyme in the rat brain cerebral cortex as well as showing that melatonin increases ChAT enzyme activity in this tissue. This suggests that melatonin plays a role in cholinergic transmission there. ChAT activity could not be measured in the pineal gland however. Muscarinic receptor binding studies also carried out on rat brain cerebral cortex show that melatonin enhances cholinergic receptor affinity and receptor number in this tissue. In summary, data presented herein concur with proposals that: i) the cholinergic system affects the indole metabolic pathway by causing a rise in aRT but not aMT levels. ii) cholinergic agonist acetylcholine causes cAMP levels to rise with a concomitant increase in cAMP-PDE levels. iii) the enzyme acetylcholinesterase undergoes a diurnal rhythm in the pineal gland which is not under the control of the sympathetic nervous system. iv) the activity of the enzyme choline acetyltransferase is increased by melatonin in the rat brain cerebral cortex suggesting that melatonin facilitates cholinergic transmission in this tissue. v) melatonin enhances cholinergic receptor affinity and receptor number in the cerebral cortex of rat brain.

The calcium signal has emerged as an imponant component of intracellular regulation. Pineal function was thought to be slowed by the prominent calcification seen with increasing age, but recently it has been shown that calcium plays a crucial role in the adrenergic regulation of the gland. Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation increases melatonin (aMT) synthesis by increasing the activity of cyclic 3 '-5' adenosine mono phosphate (cAMP). Cyclic-AMP regulates the production of the pineal hormone, melatonin, from serotonin via the rate-limiting enzyme N-acetyltransferase (NAT). Increased intracellular cAMP is essential to the adrenergic induction of NAT. Noradrenaline(NA)also elevates pinealocyte cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Adrenergic regulation of these cyclic nucleotides involves both α₁ - and β-adrenoceptors. Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation is an absolute requirement. Alphal-adrenoceptor activation, which is ineffective alone, serves to amplify the β-stimulated cAMP and cGMP responses via a positive effect on a Ca²⁺⁻/ phospholipiddependent protein kinase (Protein kinase-C) and a net influx of Ca²⁺ into the pinealocyte. Previous studies suggest the use of organic calcium channel blockers (CCBs) as probes of calcium-mediated processes. Applying this concept, the study set out to investigate the influence of a representative of each of the structurally diverse groups of calcium channel blockers viz. verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine, and to examine their effect on β-adrenoceptor stimulation. It used the β-agonist isoprenaline (ISO) and the mixed [α₁/β]agonist noradrenaline (NA), for its combined [α₁/β]adrenoceptor stimulation, on agonist-induced increases in the production of radio-labelled aMT and N-acetylserotonin(aHT) -measured as the sum of N-acetylated product- from [¹⁴C] serotonin. This was done using organ cultures of rat pineal glands. It was speciously assumed that this drug paradigm would allow the determination of Ca²⁺ influx and/or the blocking thereof in the reported potentiation by using ISO as a non Ca²⁺ -entry stimulating agonist, compared with NA and its Ca²⁺ -entry stimulating properties. Surprisingly, all 3 CCB's potentiated the effect of NA. Only diltiazem was found not to potentiate the effect of ISO. In an attempt to uncover the reason for these results, the study moved toward a mechanistic approach,focusing in an antecedent manner on the various steps in the indole metabolic pathway to identify the point at which the change occurred, and hence possibly elucidate the mechanism responsible for the paradoxical increase. Experiments which assayed the levels of NAT, under the same drug conditions, showed the paradoxical increase to be already evident at this stage. Secondary experiments confirmed that NA stimulation of the pineal is dependent on Ca²⁺, both in organ culture and with NAT: the Ca²⁺ chelator EGTA abolished adrenergically-induced stimulation, while Ca²⁺ added after EGTA, restored the enzyme activity. The ionophore A23187 (which is able to transport Ca²⁺ directly into the pinealocyte via a mechanism which differs from the α₁ - mechanism) when used in conjunction with ISO or NA, was able to potentiate the responses of these two agonists relative to control values (agonist-alone), but by itself had no effect. With the enzyme NAT critically dependent upon cAMP for its induction, it was decided to determine the levels of cAMP and then those of its regulator, cAMP-phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE). This reasoning was prompted by reports of anti-calmodulin activity shown by the CCBs, in addition to their channel blocking effects. By binding to calmodulin (CaM), the CCBs are reportedly able to inhibit the CaM-dependent activation of cAMP-PDE. Following NA stimulation, verapamil caused a significant decrease in cAMP-PDE levels and an increase in cAMP. The other CCBs showed a similar trend. Glands stimulated with ISO in the presence of verapamil and nifedipine showed no significant differences in cAMP or cAMP-PDE levels. Diltiazem, however, was found to decrease the effect of ISO on cAMP while causing a concomitant increase in cAMP-PDE. This i) supported a possible hypothesis that the observed enhancement is a result of cAMP levels remaining elevated due to an inhibition of cAMP-PDE by the CCEs and ii) pointed to the possible presence of a CaM-sensitive PDE within the rat pineal gland. To test this hypothesis, two drugs which are more specific in their actions on CaM effects were chosen to see if the earlier results could be mimicked and thereby confirmed. Glands stimulated with NA in the presence of the specific CaM inhibitor R 24571 showed increased NAT activity and [¹⁴C]-aMT production. cAMP-PDE levels were clearly down, thus corroborating the possibility of cAMP-PDE inhibition. Glands incubated in the presence of M&B 22948, a CaM-sensitive PDE inhibitor, showed similar increases in NAT activity and [¹⁴C]-aMT. These findings therefore support the initial results and although indirect, confirm the hypothesis that the paradoxical increase following predominantly NA stimulation could be a result of cAMP levels remaining elevated, due to inhibition by the CCEs of the CaM-dependent activation of its regulator cAMP-PDE. In summary, data presented herein concur with proposals that: i) the CCEs are not specific enough to be used as tools to research Ca²⁺ -mediated events, as they appear to have sites of action other than the voltage operated channel (VOC); eg. binding to calmodulin, ii) there are functional differences between the CCEs as shown by diltiazem in this series of experiments, iii) there is a CaM-sensitive-PDE present in the pineal.

The pineal organ in sockeye salmon and its relation with other epithalamic components has been studied. Histological and histochemlcal methods were used and the influence of experimental photoperiods on the histology and secretion in the juvenile pineals investigated. Photosensory and supporting ependymal cells have been identified. Lipofuchsin and melanin are absent in the pineal epithelium. Besides sensory fibres, efferent end-loops are present on the sensory and supporting cells. The dorsal pineal nerve tract is probably of a mixed type. Although the blood supply is profuse an endocrine or neuroendocrine activity is not indicated. It is proposed that the pineal organ in both juveniles and adults is photosensory and secretory. The apocrine secretory activity of the sensory and some supporting cells is probably associated with either the maintenance of constant chemical composition of the cerebrospinal fluid or supply of certain substances to the nervous tissue. The subcommissural organ is metabolically more active than the pineal. The secretion consists of glycogen, mucopolysaccharides, mucoproteins, glycoproteins and aldehyde-fuchsin positive granules. Chrome-alum positive granules are abundant in the subcommissural organ. Both the pineal organ and the subcommissural organ appear independent of light's influence on secretion and histology. It seems more plausible that apocrine secretory activity is controlled by some internal factors. It is suggested that the pineal organ might be of some advantage in the light dependent behaviour of this species in terms of intensity detection. Future work is necessary in this direction. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

The role of the fish pineal organ has been studied using the goldfish Carassius auratus and the Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. To this end, the effects of pinealectomy in goldfish on various behavioural responses, endocrine systems, and the reproductive system were studied. The pineal organs and the retinal tissue from mature and immature salmon were examined by thin-layer chromatography and fluorometry to determine if melatonin, a mammalian hormone, is present in the fishes. Goldfish were injected with melatonin to see if the effect of exogenous melatonin was opposite to that of pinealectomy. Pinealectomized goldfish lost the photo-negative response seen in normal goldfish. Blinding had the same effect on phototaxis as pinealectomy and a combination of the two had the same effect as blinding or pinealectomy alone. It was concluded that the normal phototactic response depended upon both the pineal organ and the eyes. Pinealectomy, blinding, or both was followed by a marked increase in swimming activity. Although this increase was correlated with a decrease in the whole brain serotonin level, a causal relationship was not established between the two. Further, pinealectomy alone produced no significant changes in whole brain serotonin level. Melatonin was localized within the pineal organ of salmon and its concentration in this tissue was analyzed. The pineal melatonin store varied during the reproductive cycle and was found in lower concentrations in the pineal organs of mature salmon. Stored melatonin could not be found in the retinal tissue despite evidence for an active tryptophane metabolism in this tissue. Injection of melatonin into goldfish inhibited the increase in gonad size under long photoperiod; this was accompanied by larger gonadotrophs in the melatonin injected fish. Removal of the pineal organ from goldfish held under short photoperiod caused an increase in gonad size similar to that seen in untreated goldfish exposed to long photoperiod. The effect of pinealectomy on the gonads was limited to that season during which the gonads could be stimulated by increasing day length. At other times of the year, neither photoperiod nor pinealectomy produced any significant effect on the gonad size. From this it was concluded that the pineal gland of the goldfish is related to the reproductive cycle and that its function depends upon photoperiod and the production of melatonin. Pinealectomy had no effect on the interrenal tissue, thyroid tissue, plasma osmotic concentration, or plasma levels of Na⁺, Cl⁻, or Ca⁺⁺, indicating that the effects of this operation are specific for the reproductive system. The data obtained from these studies support the hypothesis that the pineal organ of fishes serves a secretory as well as a sensory function. Further, the functional aspects of the mammalian and fish pineal organs are discussed and it is concluded that the role of the pineal organ is similar in the two groups; that is, the pineal organ of mammals and fish is involved in the timing of reproductive events. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate