ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS AND ANNUAL HARDERIAN-PINEAL-GONADAL INTERRELATIONSHIP IN INDIAN JUNGLE BUSH QUAIL, PERDICULA-ASIATICA

A functional link between the Harderian and pineal glands has been sus pected because they both are known to respond to changes in photoperio d. Further, the pineal gland is known to influence reproduction by sec reting melatonin, and melatonin receptors have been detected in the Ha rderian gland. Hence, we conducted a study to investigate the annual c hanges in weight and secretory activity for the pineal gland, Harderia n gland, and ovary in jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiatica), a bird i ndigenous to the tropics in India. Annual changes in weight for the th ree glands were found. In late May, when weather is favorable, the ova ry and Harderian gland reached maximal mass, and the pineal gland had the smallest mass. In general, the annual changes in weight for the th ree glands were associated with the annual changes in melatonin and 17 beta-estradiol concentrations in the plasma and porphyrin content in the Harderian gland. These results suggest that there is an inverse re lationship between pineal gland activity and ovarian and Harderian gla nd activities. (C) 1997 Academic Press.