QueryDate : 2016-12-24
Cites : 0
| ORIGINAL
ARTICLE |
| | | Data source : Google Scholar QueryDate : 2016-12-24 Cites : 0 |
Changes
in day length enhance or suppress component of immune function in
individuals of several species. The purpose of the present experiment
was to study the role of photoperiodic manipulation on the nitric oxide
production by splenic macrophages in the fresh-water snake, Natrix
piscator. To study effect of photoperiod, animals were subjected to 24
hour continuous light and continuous dark for 30 days. Animals kept in
natural day length served as control. At termination of experiments,
animals were sacrificed, and spleen was excised. Macrophages were
incubated for 24 hours and nitric oxide production was measured by
measuring the nitrite concentration. Nitrite production was
significantly decreased to the cultures obtained from the animals kept
under continuous light. No change in nitrite concentration was found in
animals kept under continuous dark, when compared to the animals kept
under natural day length. The possible role of decreased melatonin
synthesis in light is suggested to decrease the nitric oxide production.
