Accession Number:

AD0776952

Title:

Influence on the Organizational Phase of Endocrine Function Exerted by Melatonin, A Centrally Acting Agent.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept., Aug 72-Mar 73,

Corporate Author:

EDGEWOOD ARSENAL ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD

Personal Author(s):

• Vaughan,George M.
• Vaughan,Mary K.

Report Date:

1974-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

15.0

Abstract:

A single subcutaneous injection of melatonin to rat or mouse pups on the day of birth inhibited the compensatory ovarian hypertrophy response to unilateral ovariectomy at six weeks of age. The body weights of melatonin-treated female mice were significantly depressed as compared to the body weights of control animals and failed to increase after castration. Compensatory adrenal hypertrophy failed to occur in mice treated with melatonin on the day of birth. Inhibition of ovarian and adrenal compensatory growth was not apparent in mice treated with melatonin on day 17 of life. It is concluded that melatonin may influence the differentiating gonadal and adrenal CNS control centers during the critical neonatal period of organizational endocrine function in the mouse and rat. Modified author abstract

Descriptors:

• *Endocrine glands
• *Adrenal glands
• *Reproduction(Physiology)
• Inhibition
• Growth(Physiology)
• Reproductive system
• Central nervous system
• Laboratory animals
• Experimental data
• Pituitary hormones

Subject Categories:

• Anatomy and Physiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE