Author:
Shoumura Shizuko,Emura Shoichi,Yamahira Tomo,Kawada Tomoo,Oda Hiroshi,Arakawa Michio,Isono Hideo
Abstract
Some studies have dealt with the relationship between the pineal gland and the parathyroid gland (PTG) Morphological changes suggest that the pineal gland may inhibit or stimulate the PTG. There are a few light microscopic studies on the effects of pineal extract on the PTG. However, there is no study on the effects of melatonin on the ultrastructure of the PTG. We investigated ultrastructural changes in the PTG of golden hamsters after administration of melatonin.Materials and methods. Three-month-old female golden hamsters with an average body weight of 130 g were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. One group was given 0.2.ml of distilled water as controls. The remaining groups were given 0.2 ml of melatonin solution at a dose of 0.8 mg/100 g body weight. The PTG of each group was removed under pentobarbital anesthesia at 1, 5, 24 and 48 hours after injection. The PTG was immersed in a mixture of 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 2% OsO4, dehydrated through acetone and embedded in Epon 812.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)