Seasonal cycles in melatonin synthesis by the pineal gland as related to testicular function in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus)

The causative effects of corticosterone on innate immunity during the stress response in the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Stress-induced inhibition of innate immune activity has been observed in a variety of wild birds and may increase chances of infection because this activity constitutes the first line of defense against pathogens. We previously reported that the transient elevation of plasma corticosterone (CORT; the primary avian glucocorticoid) that occurs during stress is necessary for stress-induced suppression of natural antibody-mediated, complement-mediated, and bactericidal activity. Here, we further investigated the regulatory role of CORT during this suppression. To this end, we treated House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) with mitotane to block endogenous CORT production, administered CORT at one of three doses (HI: 1.34 mg/kg; LO: 1.00 mg/kg; CON: vehicle), and assessed natural antibody-mediated, complement-mediated, and bactericidal activity during acute stress induced by handling and restraint. Mitotane administration eliminated the endogenous plasma CORT increase that normally takes place during stress, and corticosterone treatment increased plasma CORT to levels similar to those measured in intact birds during acute stress. As predicted, mitotane-treated birds receiving CON injections did not exhibit stress-induced suppression of complement-mediated and bactericidal activity, and CORT administration at both LO and HI doses restored this suppression. Contrary to expectations, mitotane-treated birds receiving CON injections demonstrated stress-induced suppression of natural antibody-mediated activity. Furthermore, CORT administration did not influence this parameter. These results suggest that stress inhibits innate immune activity through both CORT-dependent and CORT-independent mechanisms, but the contribution of these mechanisms can vary. This variation may result from effects of environmental factors, the identity and role of which warrant further research.

Corticosterone rapidly suppresses innate immune activity in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Stress-induced effects on innate immune activity in wild birds have been difficult to predict. These difficulties may arise from the frequent assumptions that (a) the stress response influences different components of the immune response similarly, (b) stress-induced effects do not change over the course of the stress response, and (c) glucocorticoids are the primary regulators of stress-induced changes of immune activity. We tested the first two assumptions by measuring three components of innate immunity at two times during the stress response in captive adult male House Sparrows, Passer domesticus. Acute stress resulting from handling and restraint suppressed plasma lytic and microbicidal activity within 10 mins and reduced plasma agglutination ability within 120 mins. We tested the third assumption by measuring stress-induced effects in sparrows that were pharmacologically adrenalectomized by mitotane administration. Confirming the effectiveness of this treatment, mitotane-treated birds had lower pre-stress plasma CORT than control birds and showed no increase in plasma CORT during acute stress. The innate immune activity of mitotane-treated birds did not decrease during the stress response, but the pre-stress immune activity of these birds did not differ from that of vehicle-treated birds. These results suggest that elevated plasma CORT during stress is primarily responsible for mediating stress-induced suppression of innate immune activity.

The structure of the pineal complex in a common Indian teleost, Catla catla: evidence for pineal-induced inhibition of testicular function within an annual reproductive cycle

The structure of the pineal complex and the annual reproductive cycle in a major Indian carp, Catla catla, were investigated in the present study. Additionally, given the well-known inhibitory effects of the pineal on reproductive function in mammals, attempts were made to investigate whether or not the pineal exerts an inhibitory influence on reproductive function in this piscine species as well. Sexually adult animals were utilized in all experiments. The cytomorphology of the pineal complex and a number of parameters for testicular function--such as testicular cytology, serum testosterone levels, and testicular activities of two steroidogenic enzymes, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) and delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta5-3beta-HSD) were examined over a period of two years. Our studies showed that the pineal complex in this species consists of three separate but distinctly connected components: (a) an end vesicle (EV); (b) a long pineal stalk (PS); and (c) a dorsal sac (DS). Of these, the epithelial lining of the EV consists of cells that have rounded vesicular nuclei and long apical cytoplasmic processes that reach the lumen, features suggestive of photoreceptor cells. The cells of the PS have some similarity with those of the EV, while DS cells appear columnar and ciliated. With regard to gonadal activity, germ cell profiles revealed that this species has four distinct phases during the annual reproductive cycle: (a) preparatory (January-April); (b) pre-spawning (May-June); (c) spawning (July); and (d) post-spawning (August-December). During the spawning phase (July), seminiferous tubular diameter, percentage of late spermatids within seminiferous tubules, and serum testosterone levels showed the highest values compared to those obtained in most of the other phases of the reproductive cycle. Also in July, along with peak serum testosterone levels, the activities of 17beta-HSD and delta5-3beta-HSD were at their highest levels. In a correlation between the pineal cytology and testicular functional status, it was noted that both the nuclear diameter and the apical cytoplasmic projections of the EV photoreceptor cells showed a significant reduction, thus suggesting a reduced synthetic activity, during the month of July, the spawning phase of the reproductive cycle. In contrast, the same features of the EV cells during the other phases of the reproductive cycle showed an increased cellular and metabolic activity--a time when the gonads were less active and in a quiescent stage. These data suggest an inhibitory role of the pineal on gonadal function and thus provide additional credence to the concept that, as in higher mammals, there exists an inverse relationship between the pineal activity and gonadal function in teleost fishes as well.

Cyclic AMP increases hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase mRNA levels in the chicken pineal gland, but is not required for circadian rhythmicity of this transcript

Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) plays an important role as the final enzyme in the synthesis of melatonin. In the chicken pineal gland, HIOMT mRNA concentration exhibits a circadian rhythm with a threefold peak at midday. The present study sought to evaluate the possible role of cyclic AMP in this transcriptional rhythm. In cultured pineal glands from 4-day-old chicks, cyclic AMP analogs and the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, increased HIOMT mRNA levels twofold to threefold in a dose-dependent manner. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide increased HIOMT mRNA levels by 50%. Actinomycin-D chase experiments indicated that cyclic AMP did not affect the stability of HIOMT mRNA, thus providing indirect evidence that the effect of cyclic AMP was exerted at transcriptional level. In cultured pineal glands from 11 days embryos, HIOMT mRNA levels failed to respond to cyclic AMP. However, a daily rhythm of HIOMT mRNA, with an endogenous component in constant darkness was clearly observed at this developmental stage. This observation indicates that cyclic AMP is not required for circadian rhythmicity of HIOMT gene transcription.

Castration and testosterone induced changes in the pinealocytes of roseringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, during different phases of the annual testicular cycle

The pinealocytes in male roseringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) were studied following bilateral castration and/or therapeutic administration of testosterone during the preparatory (June-July), progressive (Nov.-Dec.), pre-breeding (Jan.-Feb.) and breeding (March-April) phases of the annual testicular cycle. The responses of the pineal to either treatment were found to be almost identical throughout the investigation. In each reproductive phase, the pineal appeared to be hypertrophied following castration and the effect was reversed by therapeutic administration of testosterone, while hormonal treatment to the intact parakeets induced regressive changes in the pinealocytes. Collectively, the results of the current study support the hypothesis that the testis through its hormone testosterone exerts inhibitory influences on the activity of pineal, and may thus be considered as being involved in the determination of an inverse relationship between the pineal and the testis during the annual cycle of free-living parakeets.

Transcriptional regulation of hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase in the chicken pineal gland: day/night changes and long-term effects of light and darkness

The indolic hormone melatonin is produced by the pineal gland according to a daily rhythm. The terminal step of melatonin synthesis is catalysed by hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase (HIOMT, EC 2.1.1.4). Adaptation to constant light or darkness modifies HIOMT activity and concentration. Using a cDNA probe encoding HIOMT, we investigated the effect of environmental lighting on HIOMT gene expression in the chicken pineal gland. HIOMT mRNA levels increased by 100% in constant light as compared with constant darkness. In addition, the present study disclosed the existence of a day/night rhythm of HIOMT gene transcription, with 3-fold higher mRNA levels at midday than at midnight. This transcriptional rhythm was not accompanied by day/night changes in HIOMT concentration, probably due to a slow turnover of this protein. Unexpected darkness did not prevent the daytime rise in HIOMT mRNA levels, whereas unexpected light prevented the night-time fall in HIOMT mRNA levels. Together, the data would suggest that the day/night rhythm of HIOMT gene transcription in the chicken pineal gland involves both a response to light and the activity of a biological oscillator.

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase from chicken pineal gland

Hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.4) is the enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland and in the retina. Polyadenylated RNA from chicken pineal glands was used to prepare a cDNA library in lambda gt11. The library was screened with an antiserum directed against chicken hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase, and one cDNA clone was isolated. The fusion protein expressed by phage lysogens was identified on Western blots as a 165 kDA immunoreactive protein (beta-galactosidase, 110 kDa; hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase, 38 kDa). The fusion protein exhibited hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase activity. Its Km values for N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine and S-adenosylmethionine were 5 times those of the natural enzyme. The intrinsic activity of the fusion protein was approx. 0.25% that of the natural enzyme. The cDNA consisted of 1436 nucleotides, including a 1038-nucleotide sequence encoding a full-length 346-amino-acid hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase. Comparison with bovine hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase [Ishida, Obinata & Deguchi (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 2895-2899] revealed 52% identity in nucleotide sequences and 44% identity in peptide sequences. Northern-blot analysis revealed the presence of hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase mRNA transcripts in chicken pineal gland and retina, but not in the telencephalon.

Long-term effects of constant light or darkness on chicken pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase expression: biochemical and cellular aspects

1. Chickens kept in constant light, as opposed to constant darkness, display a twofold increase in the activity of pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), the last acting enzyme in the melatonin pathway. 2. Using an immunological approach, we presently show that this regulation of HIOMT activity reflects changes in the concentration of a single molecular form of the enzyme protein (a 38 kDa polypeptide). Immunohistofluorescence indicates that these concentration changes concurrently affect modified photoreceptors and pinealocyte-like cells in the chicken pineal organ. 3. Together, the present data support the hypothesis that environmental lighting might regulate the expression of the HIOMT gene.

Annual pineal and testicular cycle in the Indian jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica, with reference to the effect of pinealectomy

The annual testicular cycle of Perdicula asiatica has a single peak which appears to be under the dual influence of the environment and the pineal gland. An inverse relationship was noted between pineal gland and testicular weight cycle. Pinealectomy, after 60 days, retarded testicular growth in the progressive phase, inhibited activity of the gonad in the active phase, and accelerated gonadal regression in the regressive phase. This complete study of short-term pinealectomy effects on the annual testicular cycle of a tropical bird for the first time reflects both the essentialness of the pineal gland to the maintenance of proper testicular cyclicity under natural environment conditions and the progonadotropic nature of the pineal gland.

Pineal activity during the seasonal gonadal cycle in a wild avian species, the tree pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)

The aim of the present investigation was to study the pineal activity during the seasonal gonadal cycle in both sexes of the Indian tree pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda). The findings revealed that the nuclear diameter of the pineal parenchymal cells moderately decreased and was followed by a moderate increase in the cell population density (per microscopic field of the pineal sections) and serotonin content of the gland during the progressive phase. The values of these parameters were further altered (decreased nuclear diameter with increased cell population density and serotonin level) during breeding but were reversibly altered to some extent during the regression phase, and further altered during the nonbreeding phase in both sexes of the birds. It is suggested that the pineal activity distinctly varies with the seasonal gonadal cycle, being minimum during breeding and maximum during nonbreeding in both sexes of the tree pie.

Seasonal changes in pineal melatonin content and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity in juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Juvenile fall and spring chinook salmon were examined for seasonal changes in pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) activity. Numerous small peaks in pineal HIOMT specific activity were found in fall chinook salmon and HIOMT activity per pineal gland increased linearly with age and/or size. In spring chinook salmon, cyclic changes in pineal HIOMT specific activity occurred in midsummer and midwinter, independent of the photoperiod under which the fish were reared. HIOMT activity per pineal gland showed a peak in midwinter. Activity increased with age and/or size of the fish during the following spring. Melatonin content of the pineal gland of spring chinook salmon did not change seasonally in fish reared under a normal photoperiod. Fish reared under constant illumination had about 50% higher pineal melatonin content than those under a normal photoperiod until November. At that time, pineal melatonin content decreased to the same level as that of fish reared under a normal photoperiod.

Seasonal changes in glycogen level and size of pinealocytes of the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus: a semiquantitative histochemical study

Glycogen level in and size of pinealocytes of the feral, white-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus, were studied by a semiquantitative histochemical method to determine whether seasonal changes exist in them under natural conditions, what temporal pattern they exhibit, and whether 24-hour changes in these parameters exist in different seasons, as shown in the laboratory dd-mice. Marked seasonal changes were seen in both glycogen levels and nuclear densities (ANOVA p less than 0.005). The size of pinealocytes at 09:00 to 10:00 showed one peak (and nadir) seasonal change, with the smallest size in winter (December and February) and a larger size in warmer seasons, with the maximum value in July. Glycogen level in pinealocytes at 09:00 to 10:00 showed bimodal seasonal changes, with lower levels in fall and spring and higher levels in winter and summer. In fall, a circadian trend in glycogen level in pinealocytes was seen, with a higher level at the end of the light period. In winter, the glycogen levels were very high at 09:00, 13:00, 17:00, and 21:00 examined and showed dampening of time-of-day differences. On the other hand, the size of pinealocytes followed a time-of-day change (P less than 0.005), being largest at 13:00 and smallest at 21:00. Thus, marked changes in quantitative structure and chemical activities, suggesting changes in functional activity, in pinealocytes were noted especially in severe, cold winter.