Circadian variation of portal, arterial and venous blood levels of melatonin in pigs and its relationship to food intake and sleep

Circadian levels of melatonin were determined in the hepatic portal vein, cranial vena cava, and the lower aorta of ten juvenile pigs. Blood was sampled every hour for a total of 24 hr via temporary cannulas introduced into blood vessels under anesthesia. No peak levels of melatonin were found in th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of pineal research Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 9 - 15
Main Authors:	Bubenik, G.A., Pang, S.F., Cockshut, J.R., Smith, P.S., Grovum, L.W., Friendship, R.M., Hacker, R.R.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Copenhagen Munksgaard 01-01-2000 Blackwell
Subjects:	Animals arterial Biological and medical sciences circadian Circadian Rhythm Digestive System Physiological Phenomena Eating Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology gastrointestinal tract hepatic portal Hepatic Veins Hormones and neuropeptides. Regulation Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis. Urophysis Male melatonin Melatonin - blood pineal Pineal Gland - physiology porcine Portal Vein - physiology Radioimmunoassay rhythm Sleep Splenic Artery - physiology Swine Venae Cavae - physiology venous Vertebrates: endocrinology Melatonin Digestive system Biological rhythm Circadian rhythm Blood Pig Vertebrata Mammalia Sleep Food intake Artiodactyla Portal vein Ungulata Pineal hormone
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Summary:	Circadian levels of melatonin were determined in the hepatic portal vein, cranial vena cava, and the lower aorta of ten juvenile pigs. Blood was sampled every hour for a total of 24 hr via temporary cannulas introduced into blood vessels under anesthesia. No peak levels of melatonin were found in the mid‐scotophase, but hepatic portal concentrations peaked at 06.00 hr. Overall levels of melatonin were highest in the hepatic portal vein (range 35–65 pg/mL), followed by an artery (range 30–55 pg/mL) and the vena cava (range 25–35 pg/mL). Levels of melatonin exhibit strong variation between individual pigs, but generally the average levels from all three sources follow each other's time course. However, on occasion, melatonin levels in the hepatic portal vein varied independently from the levels in the vena cava. Large portal peaks were usually preceded by a feeding period and were associated with a subsequent period of sleep. The data indicate that: 1) there is no clear circadian rhythm of melatonin in the peripheral blood of pigs, 2) relatively little melatonin is metabolized during the first liver passage, 3) food intake may elevate melatonin levels in the hepatic portal vein, and 4) increased levels of melatonin originated in the gastrointestinal tract may induce sleep.
Bibliography:	ark:/67375/WNG-L2XBF3D1-F ArticleID:JPI280102 istex:660B5561F2AEEAD1CCACE1B3F403B916CB1C0329 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0742-3098 1600-079X
DOI:	10.1034/j.1600-079x.2000.280102.x