AJP - Endo Add DOIs to your references at manuscript stage!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 274: E607-E610, 1998;
0193-1849/98 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zarazaga, L. A.
Right arrow Articles by Chemineau, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zarazaga, L. A.
Right arrow Articles by Chemineau, P.
Vol. 274, Issue 4, E607-E610, April 1998

The large variability in melatonin blood levels in ewes is under strong genetic influence

Luis A. Zarazaga1, Benoît Malpaux1, Loys Bodin2, and Philippe Chemineau1

1 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Neuroendocrinologie Sexuelle, Physiologie de la Reproduction, 37380 Nouzilly; and 2 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Station d'Amélioration Génétique des Animaux, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France

The present study was conducted to assess the degree of genetic determination of the variability in the mean nocturnal plasma concentration of melatonin in sheep. Three hundred twelve ewes born from 18 males and with known genealogy were sampled at the summer and the winter solstices. The nocturnal plasma melatonin concentration was defined as the mean of four plasma samples taken at hourly intervals in the middle of the night (2200-0200). Identity of the father (P < 0.001) and the solstice (P < 0.05) were significant. Melatonin concentrations varied considerably among individuals [338.4 ± 197.5 (SD) pg/ml; range 26.6-981.3 pg/ml] and between rams regarding the melatonin concentrations of their daughters (range from 202.9 to 456.3 pg/ml). Inheritance was analyzed by a statistical model that allows discrimination of genetic effects from nongenetic effects and that estimates repeatability and heritability coefficients. Both the repeatability coefficient between solstices (0.60) and heritability coefficient [0.45 ± 0.07 (SE)] were high. These results demonstrate that the variability in plasma melatonin concentration in ewes is under strong genetic control.

pineal gland; photoperiod; ram; repeatability; heritability


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. L. Coon, L. A. Zarazaga, B. Malpaux, J.-P. Ravault, L. Bodin, P. Voisin, J. L. Weller, D. C. Klein, and P. Chemineau
Genetic variability in plasma melatonin in sheep is due to pineal weight, not to variations in enzyme activities
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, November 1, 1999; 277(5): E792 - E797.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
L. A. Zarazaga, B. Malpaux, D. Guillaume, L. Bodin, and P. Chemineau
Genetic variability in melatonin concentrations in ewes originates in its synthesis, not in its catabolism
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 1998; 274(6): E1086 - E1090.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online