Pineal-reproductive Interactions: Temperature Effects

松果体是大脑中的一个小器官，它向血液中释放一种化学物质（激素），进而影响生殖系统，即男性的精子产生和女性的排卵。松果体产生的激素数量取决于昼夜周期；动物或人类看到的黑暗越多，产生的松果体激素就越多。这些研究中特别感兴趣的松果体激素是褪黑激素。除了光/暗周期，环境温度也可能改变松果体褪黑激素的数量。目前研究的目的是检查光线（和黑暗）和温度如何控制褪黑激素对生殖系统的作用。实验将利用一种动物，叙利亚仓鼠，其松果体对光/暗和温度变化非常敏感。将对雄性和雌性仓鼠进行检查。同时，将松果体激素褪黑素注射到饲养在不同环境条件下的仓鼠体内，并测量其行为。最后，松果体产生褪黑激素并释放到血液中的量将被确定。这些研究的结果将提供有关环境如何影响包括人类在内的哺乳动物的生殖、生物节律和其他功能的信息。

The pineal gland is a small organ in the brain which releases a chemical (hormone) into the blood which in turn influences the reproductive system, i.e., sperm production in males and ovulation in females. The amount of hormones the pineal gland produces depends on the day/night cycle; more darkness an animal or human witnesses the larger quantity of the pineal hormone produced. The pineal hormone of special interest in these studies is melatonin. Besides the light/dark cycle, environmental temperature may also change either the quantity of pineal melatonin. The purpose of the current studies is to examine how light (and darkness) and temperature control melatonin actions on the reproductive system. The experiments will utilize an animal, the Syrian hamster, whose pineal is very sensitive to light/dark and temperature changes. Male and female hamsters will be examined. Also, the pineal hormone melatonin will be injected into hamsters kept under different environmental conditions and its actions will be measured. Finally, the amount of melatonin produced in the pineal gland and released into the blood will be determined. The results of these studies will provide information on how the environment influences reproduction biological rhythms and other functions in mammals including man.