Role of Pineal and Melatonin in the Avian Circadian and Photoperiodic Systems

Jump To References Section

Authors

  • Ila Mishra
     Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 10007 ,IN
  • Vinod Kumar
     Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 10007 ,IN

Keywords:

Bird, circadian, melatonin, pineal, photoperiod
english

Abstract

The pineal gland is an important component of the multioscillatory avian circadian timekeeping system. The other principal clock components reside in the retinae of the eyes and the hypothalamus. The best known output signal from the pineal gland is melatonin, which is a lipophilic molecule. The presence of melatonin is however not limited to the organisms having a pineal gland. Melatonin is present from plants to protozoa to humans. Melatonin seems to have been evolutionarily conserved as an adaptive molecule of darkness of the daily day-night environment. In birds, the major physiological roles of pineal melatonin are in its involvement in the daily and seasonal timekeeping as well as photoperiodic time measurement. Birds use daily rhythm in melatonin secretion to decode the time-of-day as well as the time-of-year information. Besides, melatonin performs other physiological roles, namely in the immune function, free radical scavenging, etc. Avian pineal (melatonin) directly regulates several circadian behaviors, but intriguingly not the circadian rhythm-mediated photoperiodic induction of gonadal development. Melatonin, however, may act as an endocrine modulator of seasonal reproduction. In this article, we describe briefly the avian timekeeping system and then discuss the potential roles of pineal gland and melatonin in daily and seasonal timing of physiology in birds, particularly in songbirds.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Downloads

Published

2017-05-30

How to Cite

Mishra, I., & Kumar, V. (2017). Role of Pineal and Melatonin in the Avian Circadian and Photoperiodic Systems. Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction, 20(1), 38–45. Retrieved from http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jer/article/view/15478

Issue

Volume 20, Issue 1, June 2016

Section

Articles

 

References

Lerner AB, Case JD, Takahashi Y. Isolation of melatonin and 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid from bovine pineal glands. J Biol Chem. 1960; 235:1992–7.

Kumar V. Melatonin: A master hormone and a candidate of universal panacea. Indian J Exp Biol. 1996; 34:391–402.

Zatz M, Mullen DA, Moskal JR. Photo-endocrine transduction in cultured chick pineal cells: effects of light, dark and potassium on the melatonin rhythm. Brain Res. 1988; 438:199–215.

Karaganis SP, Kumar V, Beremand PD, Baliey MJ, Thomas TL, Cassone VM. Circadian genomics of the chick pineal gland in vitro. BMC Genomics. 2008; 9:206. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-206.

Janik D, Dittami J, Gwinner E. The effect of pinealectomy on circadian plasma melatonin levels in house sparrows and European starlings. J Biol Rhythms. 1992; 7:277–86.

Kumar V, Gwinner E. Pinealectomy shortens resynchronisation times of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) circadian rhythms. Naturwiss. 2005; 92:419–22.

Ebihara S, Oshima I, Yamada H, Goto M, Sato K. Circadian organization in the Pigeon. Hiroshige T. Homma K, editors.Comparative Aspects of Circadian Clock. Hokkaido University Press; 1987. p. 84–94.

Underwood H, Siopes T. Circadian organization in Japanese quail. J Exp Zool. 1984; 232:557–66.

Bailey MJ, Beremand PD, Hammer R, Bell-Pedersen D, Thomas TL, Cassone VM. Transcriptional profiling of the chicken pineal gland, a photoreceptive circadian oscillator and pacemaker. Mol Endocrinol. 2003; 17:2084–95.

Kumar V, Follett BK. The circadian nature of melatonin secretion in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). J Pineal Res. 1993; 14:192–200.

Brandstätter R, Kumar V, Abraham U, Gwinner E. Photoperiodic information acquired and stored in vivo is retained in vitro by a circadian oscillator, the avian pineal gland.2000; Proc Nat Acad Sci USA. 2000; 97:12324–8.

Brandstätter R, Kumar V, Van't Hof TJ, Gwinner E. Seasonal variations of in vivo and in vitro melatonin production in a passeriform bird, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). J Pineal Res. 2001; 31:120–6.

Takahashi JS, Hamm H, Menaker M. Circadian rhythms of melatonin release from superfused chicken pineal glands in vitro. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA. 1980; 77:2319–22.

Robertson LM, Takahashi JS. Circadian clock in the cell culture: I. Oscillation of melatonin release from dissociated chick pineal cells inflow-through micro-carrier culture. J Neurosci. 1988a; 8:12–21.

Robertson LM, Takahashi JS. Circadian clock in the cell culture: II. In vitro photic entrainment of melatonin oscillation from dissociated chick pineal cells. J Neurosci.1988b; 8(1):22–30.

Murakami N, Nakamura H, Nishi R, Marumoto N, Nasu T. Comparison of circadian oscillation of melatonin release in pineal cells of house sparrow, pigeon and Japanese quail using cell perfusion system. Brain Res. 1994; 651:209–14.

Kumar V, Jain N. Circadian regulation of melatonin secretion in black-headed buntings (Emberiza melanocephala).Indian J Exp Biol. 1995; 33:333–6.

Bernard M, Iuvone PM, Cassone VM, Rosenboom PH, Coon SL, Klein DC. Avian melatonin synthesis: Photic and circadian regulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase mRNA in the chicken pineal gland and retina. J Neurochem.1997; 68:213–24.

Cassone VM. The self-same beat of time's wide wings. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA. 2000; 97:11677–9.

Trivedi AK, Malik S, Rani S, Kumar V. Pinealectomy abolishes circadian behavior and interferes with circadian clock gene oscillations in brain and liver but not retina in a migratory songbird. Physiol Behav. 2016; 156:156–63.

Cassone VM, Menaker M. Is the avian circadian system a neuroendocrine loop? J Exp Zool. 1984; 232:539–49.

Gwinner E, Hau M, Heigl S. Melatonin: Generation and modulation of avian circadian rhythms. Brain Res Bull.1997; 44:439–44.

Kumar V, Singh BP, Rani S. The bird clock: A complex multi-oscillatory and highly diversified system. Biol Rhythm Research. 2004; 35:121–44.

Gwinner E, Brandstaetter R. Complex bird clocks. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B. 2001; 356:1801–10.

Gaston S, Menaker M. Pineal function: The biological clock in the sparrow? Science. 1968; 160:1125–7.

Binkley S, Kluth E, Menaker M. Pineal function in sparrows: Circadian rhythm and body temperature. Science.1971; 174:311–4.

Zimmerman NH, Menaker M. Neural connections of sparrow pineal: role in circadian control of activity. Science.1975; 190:477–9.

Zimmerman NH, Menaker M. The pineal gland: A pacemaker within the circadian system of the house sparrow.Proc Nat Acad Sci USA. 1979; 76:999–1003.

Chabot CC, Menaker M. Effects of physiological cycles of infused melatonin on circadian rhythmicity in pigeons. J Comp Physiol A. 1992; 170:615–22.

Heigl S, Gwinner E. Periodic melatonin in the drinking water synchronizes circadian rhythms in Sparrows. Naturwiss.1994; 81:83–5.

Cassone VM, Bartell PA, Earnest BJ, Kumar V. Duration of melatonin regulates seasonal changes in song control nuclei of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus: Independence from gonads and circadian entrainment. J Biol Rhythms.2008; 23:49–58.

Kumar V. Role of melatonin in timekeeping in birds. J Endocrinol Reprod. 2006; 10:1–10.

Rani S, Singh S, Malik S, Singh J, Kumar V. Synchronization of Indian weaverbird circadian rhythms to food and light zeitgebers: Role of pineal Chronobiol Int. 2009; 26:653–65.

Gaston S, Menaker M. Pineal function: the biological clock in the sparrow? Science. 1968; 160:1125–7.

Gwinner E. Effects of pinealectomy on circadian locomotor activity rhythms in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris. J Comp Physiol. 1978; 126:123–9.

McBride S. Pineal biochemical rhythms of the chicken (Gallus domesticus) [PhD dissertation]. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh; 1973.

Simpson SM, Follett BK. Pineal and hypothalamic pacemakers: Their role in regulating circadian rhythmicity in Japanese quail. J Comp Physiol. 1981; 141:381–9.

Underwood H, Barrett RK, Siopes T. Melatonin does link the eyes to the rest of the circadian system in quail: a neural pathway is involved. J Biol Rhythms. 1990; 5:349–61.

Underwood H. The circadian rhythm of thermoregulation in Japanese quail. I. Role of the eyes and the pineal. J Comp Physiol A. 1994; 175:639–53.

Oshima I, Yamada H, Goto M, Sato K, Ebihara S. Pineal and retinal melatonin is involved in the control of circadian locomotor activity and body temperature rhythms in the pigeon. J Comp Physiol A. 1989; 166:217–26.

Wever R. Pendulum versus relaxation oscillation. Aschoff J, editor. Circadian Clocks. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ Company; 1965. p. 74–83.

Gwinner E (1996) Circadian and circannual programmes in avian migration. J Exp Biol. 199:39–48.

Heigl S, Gwinner E. Synchronization of circadian rhythms of house sparrows by oral melatonin: effects of changing period. J Biol Rhythms. 1995; 10:225–33.

Abraham U, Gwinner E, Van't Hof TJ. Exogenous melatonin reduces the resynchronization time after phase shifts of a nonphotic zeitgeber in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus).J Biol Rhythms. 2000; 15:48–56.

Hau M, Gwinner E. Continuous melatonin administration accelerates resynchronization following phase shifts of a light-dark cycle. Physiol Behav. 1995; 58:89–95.

Takahashi JS, Menaker M, Role of suprachiasmatic nuclei in the circadian system of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus.J Neurosci. 1982; 2:815–28.

Gwinner E, Schwabl-Benzinger I, Schwabl H, Dittami J.Twenty-four hour melatonin profiles in a nocturnally migrating bird during and between migratory seasons. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1993; 90:119–24.

Cockrem JF. Plasma melatonin in the adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) under continuous daylight in Antarctica. J Pineal Res. 1991; 10:2–8.

Miche F, Vivien-Roels B, Pevet P, Spehner C, Robin JP, Le Maho T. Daily pattern of melatonin secretion in an Antarctic bird, the emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri: Seasonal variations, effect of constant illumination and of administration of isoproterenol or propranolol. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1991; 84:249–63.

Reierth E, Van't Hof TJ, Stokkan K-A. Seasonal and daily variations in plasma melatonin in the high Arctic svalbard ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus hyperboreus). Gen Comp Endocrinol.1999; 90:119–24.

Gwinner E, Dittami J. Pinealectomy affects the circannual testicular rhythm in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).J Comp Physiol A. 1980; 136:345–8.

Chandola-Saklani A, Bhatt D, Lakhera P. Effect of pinealectomy on free-running reproductive cycle of tropical spotted munia. J Comp Physiol A. 1988; 164:117–21.

Wilson FE, Neither retinal nor pineal photoreceptors mediate photoperiodic control of seasonal reproduction in American tree sparrows. J Exp Zool. 1991; 259:117–27.

Kumar V. Effect of melatonin in blocking the response to a skeleton photoperiod in the black-headed bunting.Physiol Behav. 1996; 59:617–20.

Kumar V, Singh S, Misra M, Malik S, Rani S. Role of melatonin in photoperiodic time measurement in the migratory red-headed bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) and the non-migratory Indian weaver bird (Ploceus philippinus).J Exp Zool. 2002; 292:277–86.

Saldanha CJ, Siverman A-J, Silver R. Direct innervation of GnRH neurons by encephalic photoreceptors in birds. J Biol Rhythms. 2001; 16:39–49.

Cardinalli DP, Cuello AE, Tramezzani JH, Rosner JM. Effects of pinealectomy on the testicular function of the adult male Duck. Endocrinol. 1971; 89:1082–93.

Balasubramanian KS, Saxena RN. Effect of pinealectomy and photoperiodism in the reproduction of the Indian weaver birds, Ploceus philippinus. J Exp Zool. 1973; 185:333–48.

Haldar C, Ghosh M. Annual pineal and testicular cycle in the Indian jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica, with reference to the effect of pinealectomy. Gen Comp Endocrinol.1990; 77:150–7.

Maitra SK, Dey M. Testicular responsiveness to exogenous melatonin during different phases of the annual testicular cycle in rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri. Eur Arch Biol. 1992; 103:157–64.

Gupta BBP, Haldar-Misra C, Ghosh M, Thapliyal JP. Effect of melatonin on gonads, body weight and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) dependent coloration of the Indian finch, lal munia (Estrilda amandava). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1987; 65:451–6.

Trivedi AK, Rani S, Kumar V. Melatonin blocks inhibitory effects of prolactin on photoperiodic induction of body fattening, testicular growth and feather regeneration in the migratory male red-headed bunting (Emberiza bruniceps).BMC: Reprod Biol Endocr. 2004; 2:79.

Tewary PD, Tripathi BK, Kumar V. Effects of exogenous prolactin on ovarian growth and fattening in the red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps. Gen Comp Endocrinol.1983; 52:315–8.