5-METHOXYINDOLES (MEL, 5-MT AND 5-MTP) INDUCED BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES INTHE PINEAL-GLAND OF INDIAN PALM SQUIRREL, FUNAMBULUS-PENNANTI

An attempt was made to study the effect of 5-methoxyindoles (5-Mis) on the biochemical constituents (protein, cholesterol and serotonin) of pineal gland (PG) in a seasonally breeding rodent, F. pennanti. The sq uirrels received evening (1630-1700hr) s.c. injection of melatonin (ME L; 20 mu g/animal/day), 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT; 20 mu g/animal/day) and 5-methoxy-tryptoghan (5-MTP; 20 mu g/animal/day) during the two p hases of reproductive cycle (active/inactive). The 5-Mis increased the pineal cholesterol (except 5-MT) and serotonin content during reprodu ctive active phase without affecting the PG weight, its protein conten t and testes weight. On the other hand, during reproductive inactive p hase, differential effects of different 5-Mis were noted. 5-MT increas ed the pineal protein and cholesterol content while 5-MTP increased th e pineal protein content only. The PG weight showed a significant decr ease whereas, testes weight increased after the Mis treatment. It can be suggested that 5-Mis had stimulatory effect on the biochemical cons tituents of PG in this seasonal breeder. The stimulation was more pote nt on the biochemical constituents when the PG was active and the squi rrels were reproductively inactive.