Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Melatonin controls photoperiodic changes in tanycyte vimentin and neural cell adhesion molecule expression in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Bolborea, Matei, Laran-Chich, Marie-Pierre, Rasri, Kamontip, Hildebrandt, Herbert, Govitrapong, Piyarat, Simonneaux, V., Pévet, Paul, Steinlechner, Stephan and Klosen, Paul (2011) Melatonin controls photoperiodic changes in tanycyte vimentin and neural cell adhesion molecule expression in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Endocrinology, 152 (10). pp. 3871-3883. 1039. doi:10.1210/en.2011-1039

Research output not available from this repository, contact author.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2011-1039

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

The Djungarian hamster displays photoperiodic variations in gonadal size synchronized to the seasons by the nightly secretion of the pineal hormone melatonin. In short photoperiod (SP), the gonads regress in size, and circulating sex steroids levels decline. Thus, the brain is subject to seasonal variations of both melatonin and sex steroids. Tanycytes are specialized glial cells located in the ependymal lining of the third ventricle. They send processes either to the meninges or to blood vessels of the medio-basal hypothalamus. Furthermore, they are known to locally modulate GnRH release in the median eminence and to display seasonal structural changes. Seasonal changes in tanycyte morphology might be mediated either through melatonin or sex steroids. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of photoperiod, melatonin, and sex steroids 1) on tanycyte vimentin expression by immunohistochemistry and 2) on the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and polysialic acid as markers of brain plasticity. Vimentin immunostaining was reduced in tanycyte cell bodies and processes in SP. Similarly, tanycytes and their processes contained lower amounts of NCAM in SP. These changes induced by SP exposure could not be restored to long photoperiod (LP) levels by testosterone supplementation. Likewise, castration in LP did not affect tanycyte vimentin or NCAM expression. By contrast, late afternoon melatonin injections mimicking a SP-like melatonin peak in LP hamsters reduced vimentin and NCAM expression. Thus, the seasonal changes in vimentin and NCAM expression in tanycytes are regulated by melatonin independently of seasonal sex steroid changes.

Item Type: Journal Article
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Journal or Publication Title: Endocrinology
Publisher: Endocrine Society
ISSN: 0013-7227
Official Date: October 2011
Dates:
DateEvent
October 2011Published
16 August 2011Available
27 July 2011Accepted
28 March 2011Submitted
Volume: 152
Number: 10
Number of Pages: 13
Page Range: pp. 3871-3883
Article Number: 1039
DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-1039
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item
twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us