Histochemical detection of monoamine oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities in the Syrian hamster Harderian glands: existence of a sexual dimorphism

Indole and porphyrin content of the Syrian hamster harderian glands during the proestrous and estrous phases of the estrous cycle

Porphyrin and indole metabolism was studied in the Harderian glands of Syrian hamsters during the proestrous and estrous stages of the estrous cycle. Porphyrins remained unaltered during these stages, but levels of different indoles (5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) exhibited pronounced changes during the dark:light period in both proestrous and estrous. There was a strong parallelism between 5-hydroxytryptamine, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid levels. Hydroxytryptophan rhythms appeared slightly shifted from those of the other indoles. Immunoreactive melatonin present in the Harderian glands did not show a significant day-night change during the stages studied.