BLINDING AND PINEALECTOMY IN MALE HAMSTERS: EFFECTS OF PINEAL INDOLES AND P-CHLOROPHENYLALANINE ON TESTES, SEMINAL VESICLES, PITUITARY AND ADRENAL GLANDS

Abstract

ABSTRACT No antigonadotrophic (AGT) activity was found after injecting 5 methoxytryptophol (5 MTPH) or both serotonin and melatonin simultaneously in normal male hamsters or hamsters subjected to blinding, pinealectomy, or both surgical procedures. Treatment with these indoles did not induce changes in weights of testes, seminal vesicles, pituitary or adrenal glands. Reproductive organs in hamsters blinded by enucleation atrophied in spite of daily consumption of the vasodilator, Apresoline. Feeding of p-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) revealed this antagonist to be mildly toxic. PCPA seemed to interfere in the hypophyseal-adrenal axis: these hamsters lost the most weight, pituitary glands were enlarged and some hyperactivity occurred in the hamsters.