Summary
The pineal gland of newborn elephant seals and Weddell seals is larger than in adult females. The gland is considerably larger at birth in Weddell seals than in elephant seals. The former experience greater extremes of temperature. Plasma melatonin concentrations in excess of 2000 pg/ml were recorded in the first days of life, compared with 20–50 pg/ml in adults.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Reiter, R.J., Endocr. Rev.1 (1980) 109.
Goldman, B.D., and Darrow, J.M., Neuroendocrinology37 (1983) 386.
Reiter, R.J., Am. J. Anat.162 (1981) 287.
Reiter, R.J., Psychoneuroendocrinology8 (1983) 31.
Ito, T., and Matsushima, S., Anat. Rec.159 (1967) 447.
Calvo, J., and Boya, J., J. Anat.138 (1984) 45.
Rollag, M.D., and Stetson, M.H., Biol. Reprod.24 (1981) 311.
Kennaway, J.D., Matthews, C.D., Seamark, R.F., Phillipou, G., and Schilthius, M., J. Steroid Biochem.8 (1977) 559.
Griffiths, D.J., Bryden, M.M., and Seamark, R.F., Aust. J. biol. Sci.32 (1979) 581.
Griffiths, D.J., and Bryden, M.M., in: Pineal Function, p.57. Eds C.D. Matthews and R.F. Seamark. Elsevier-North Holland Biomed. Press, Amsterdam 1981.
Tedman, R.A., J. Anat.124 (1977) 524.
Kooyman, G.L., in: Handbook of Marine Mammals, p.275. Eds S.H. Ridgway and R.J. Harrison, Academic Press, London 1981.
Ling, J.K., and Bryden, M.M., in: Handbook of Marine Mammals, p.297. Eds S.H. Ridgway and R.J. Harrison. Academic Press, London 1981.
Aherne, W., Jl R. microsc. Soc.87 (1967) 493.
Kennaway, D.J., Gilmore, T.A., and Seamark, R.F., Endocrinology110 (1982) 1766.
Reiter, R.J., and Vaughan, M.K., Life Sci.21 (1977) 159.
Amoroso, E.C., Bourne, G.H., Harrison, R.J., Matthews, L.H., Rowlands, I.W., and Sloper, J.C., J. Zool. Lond.147 (1965) 430.
Bryden, M.M., Aust. J. Zool.17 (1969) 153.
Ralph, C.L., Firth, B.T., Gern, W.A., and Owens, D.W., Biol. Rev.54 (1979) 41.
Kennaway, D.J., and Seamark, R.F., J. Reprod. Fert.45 (1975) 529.
Vriend, J., Neuroendocrinology36 (1983) 68.
Vriend, J., and Wilber, J.F., Hormone Res.17 (1983) 108.
Vaughan, M.K., Richardson, B.A., Craft, C.M., Powanda, C., and Reiter, R.J., Gerontology28 (1982) 345.
Elsner, R., Hammond, D.D., Denison, D.M., and Wyburn, R., in: Adaptations within Antarctic Ecosystems, p.531. Ed. G.A. Llano. Smithsonian Institution. Washington, DC 1977.
Heldemaier, G., and Hoffman, N.K., Nature, Lond.247 (1974) 224.
Heldemaier, G., steinlechner, S., Rafael, J., and Vsiansky, P., Science212 (1981) 917.
Kott, K.S., and Horwitz, B.A., Cryobiology20 (1983) 100.
Kott, K.S., and Horwith, B.A., Fed. Proc.43 (1984) abstr. 2992.
Fiske, V.M., Bryant, G.K., and Putnam, J., Endocrinology66 (1960) 489.
Klein, D.C., and Weller, J.L., Science169 (1970) 1093.
Upson, R.H., Benson, B., and Satterfield, V., Anat. Rec.184 (1976) 311.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Acknowledgment. We thank members of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Macquarie Island for assistance with collection of elephant seal samples, in particular G. Burns, D. Carroll, G. Copson, R. Ledingham and S. Pye. The support of the National Science Foundation, USA, and personnel at the United States Antarctic Research Program base at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, are gratefully acknowledged. The Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service kindly issued permits to collect specimens at Macquarie Island.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bryden, M.M., Griffiths, D.J., Kennaway, D.J. et al. The pineal gland is very large and active in newborn antarctic seals. Experientia 42, 564–566 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01946705
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01946705