A single intraperitoneal (IP) melatonin injection (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) caused an increase in norepinephrine (NE) fluorescence and elevation of NE content in newly-hatched pigeons (Columba livia), but a reduction of NE fluorescence and depletion of NE content in the adrenal medulla of newly-hatched crows (Corvus splendens) after 0.5 h of treatment. In contrast, in adults melatonin caused increase in NE fluorescence and elevation of NE content only in the parakeet (Psittacula krameri). Half an hour of IP melatonin treatment (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) induced release of epinephrine (E) from the adrenal medulla of newly-hatched pigeon and parakeet. In contrast, in the adults melatonin caused more than a two-fold increase in E in the pigeon, and a significant increase in the crow. Single IP melatonin injection (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) caused hypoglycemia in the newly-hatched parakeet and adult pigeon, and hyperglycemia in newly-hatched pigeon after 0.5 h of treatment. Melatonin failed to regulate glucose homoeostasis in newly-hatched and adult crow. Splanchnic denervation of the left adrenal gland was performed in the adult pigeon. The right adrenal served as the innervated gland. Melatonin-induced modulation of catecholamines following a single IP injection (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) revealed significant increases in NE fluorescence and NE content at 4 and 12 h after treatment in the denervated gland only, which gradually approached normal levels 9 days after treatment. In contrast, E content showed more than a two-fold increase over the control value in both the innervated and denervated glands 0.5 and 24 h after treatment. At 9 days after treatment, E content showed significant depletion in the innervated gland. The results of this study indicate that melatonin modulates catechol hormone content in avian adrenal medulla, and also regulates glucose homoeostasis (except in the crow). The splanchnic nerve plays a vital role in the synthesis of NE but has no effect on E.

Influence of age and splanchnic nerve on the action of melatonin in the adrenomedullary catecholamine content and blood glucose level in the avian group

The purpose of this review is to explore the world literature on the avian adrenal medulla from the last 20 years. Unlike the mammalian adrenal medulla, the adrenal gland in birds has chromaffin cells mixed with cortical cells. Studies have investigated the ultrastructure (both transmission and scanning electron microscopy), biochemistry, and physiology (partic- ularly interactions with other endocrine glands) of the avian adrenal medulla. Although progress has been made, it is apparent that research on the avian adrenal medulla still lags behind work on the mammalian organ.

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Avian adrenal medulla: cytomorphology and function

The aim of the present investigation was to ascertain (1) the effect of steroid hormones (corticosterone, dexamethasone, deoxycorticosterone, progesterone, testosterone and oestrogen) on the neural regulation of adrenomedullary catecholamine (CA) content, and (2) the neural modulation of the effect of glucocorticoid hormones (corticosterone and dexamethasone) on reserpine-induced resynthesis of CA. The experiment was conducted on unilaterally splanchnic-denervated pigeons. The findings revealed that 7 consecutive days of steroid treatments (2.5 mg·kg b.w.-1, i.m.) resulted in significant changes of CA content. Interestingly, the changes of epinephrine (E) content differed significantly between the innervated and denervated glands. This clearly indicates that the splanchnic nerve regulates steroid-induced alterations of E content in the pigeon. The results further revealed that the glucocorticoid hormones augmented reserpine-induced resynthesis of CA specifically in the innervated glands. This confirms that the splanchnic nerve is essential for the synergistic action of glucocorticoids and reserpine in accelerating resynthesis of CA.

Role of splanchnic nerve on steroid-hormone-induced alteration of adrenomedullary catecholamines in untreated and reserpinized pigeon.

Glucagon (0.1 mg · 100 g body wt-1) increased norepinephrine (NE) content in adult pigeon (31%) and parakeet (58%), decreased NE content in the adrenal medulla of newly-hatched pigeon (36%), parakeet (52%), and crow (44%) 0.5 h after treatment. Epinephrine (E) content decreased to 26% and 59% of control values, respectively, in newly-hatched pigeon and parakeet 0.5 h after treatment. Glucagon produced hyperglycemia irrespective of age and species. The results indicate that aging modulates glucagon-induced changes of catecholamine (CA) content. In the innervated (I) adrenal gland of pigeon, glucagon caused a 31% increase of NE content 0.5 h after injection, a 46% decrease of NE content 12 h after injection, and a 192% increase of NE 24 h after injection. In the I gland of pigeons, glucagon also caused a 61% decrease of E content 4 h after injection, and brought about a 100% increase of E 24 h after injection. Glucagon-induced changes of CA content differ significantly between the I and denervated (D) glands. The results indicate that the splanchnic nerve regulates release and/or resynthesis of CA induced by glucagon.

Asok Ghosh

Papers

Influence of splanchenic nerve and age on the action of insulin in the adrenomedullary catecholamine content and blood glucose level in pigeon