Date of Award:
5-1-1970
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Biology
Department name when degree awarded
Physiology
Committee Chair(s)
LeGrande C. Ellis
Committee
LeGrande C. Ellis
Committee
James Gessaman
Committee
T. M. Farley
Abstract
Pineal hydroxyindole-0-methyl transferase (HIOMT) activity of the House Sparrow was found to have an annual cycle. During seasons of reproductive activity, HIOMT activity was minimal in contrast to the increased HIOMT activity that occurred during the seasons of reproductive quiescence. The lag in response between increase in testes weight and change in pineal HIOMT activity and the fact that testes can increase in weight with an increase of pineal HIOMT activity suggests that the annual cycling of HIOMT activity and melatonin synthesis by the pineal gland is not responsible for the annual cycles in reproduction of the House Sparrow. However, this is consistent with the concept that the pineal gland acts as a neuroendocrine transducer mediating effects of light and dark on reproduction. When House Sparrows were subjected to continuous red light, HIOMT activity was less than was observed for birds kept in continuous darkness. White light regimes, deficient in red light increased HIOMT activity. Testosterone injection appeared to have no effect on pineal HIOMT activity.
Recommended Citation
Barfuss, Delon W., "The Physiological Role of the Pineal Body with Respect to Testicular Function in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)" (1970). Biology. 371.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd_biology/371
Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .