ISSN:
1433-0350
Keywords:
Pineal gland
;
Glucose metabolism
;
Quantitative autoradiography
;
Rat
;
Development
;
Aging
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Employing quantitative autoradiography, pineal body glucose utilization (GU) was measured in daytime or at night in prepubertal (aged 1 month), adult (aged 3 months), and mature (over 12 months old) rats. In prepubertal and adult rats, in daytime, GU values within the pineal tissue were homogeneously distributed around 65 μmol glucose/100 g per min. In prepubertal animals no significant variations in GU were observed between daytime and nocturnal measurements. A circadian metabolic rhythmicity was evident in adult rats, with a GU peak measured at 2 a.m. In mature animals, GU also varied between day and night, with an increment in the relative difference between the two values. The present investigation is the first to demonstrate that circadian metabolic rhythmicity is absent before sexual maturation while it is enhanced in 12-month-old rats. These changes in pineal energy metabolism with advancing age are intriguing in view of the concept that the pineal gland may be involved in functional changes occurring during the process of aging.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00301931
