Biomaterial Database

Circadian clock in cell culture: I. Oscillation of melatonin release from dissociated chick pineal cells in flow-through microcarrier culture. 1988

L M Robertson, and J S Takahashi

Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

The avian pineal gland contains circadian oscillators that regulate the rhythmic release of melatonin. We have developed a dissociated chick pineal cell culture system in order to begin a cellular analysis of this vertebrate circadian oscillator. Dissociated pineal cells maintained in cyclic light conditions (LD 12:12) released melatonin rhythmically. The release of melatonin was elevated during the dark and low during the light. A circadian oscillation of melatonin release persisted for at least 5 cycles in constant darkness with a period close to 24 hr; however, there was a gradual damping of the amplitude. Analysis of the rhythm revealed that the observed damping was consistent with either desynchronization of multiple oscillators within the cultures or damping of individual oscillators. The circadian oscillation of melatonin release persisted for up to 4 cycles under conditions of constant light; however, the oscillation was strongly damped and the period of the oscillation was lengthened significantly. Thus, dissociated pineal cells express a persistent circadian oscillation of melatonin release in constant darkness, and properties of this oscillation are modulated by light treatment in vitro. This flow-through cell culture method for dissociated chick pineal cells should provide a useful model for the analysis of a vertebrate circadian system at the cellular level.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D008297	Male		Males
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D010870	Pineal Gland	A light-sensitive neuroendocrine organ attached to the roof of the THIRD VENTRICLE of the brain. The pineal gland secretes MELATONIN, other BIOGENIC AMINES and NEUROPEPTIDES.	Epiphysis Cerebri,Pineal Body,Corpus Pineale,Gland, Pineal,Pineal Bodies,Pineal Glands
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D003584	Cytological Techniques	Methods used to study CELLS.	Cytologic Technics,Cytological Technic,Cytological Technics,Cytological Technique,Technic, Cytological,Technics, Cytological,Technique, Cytological,Techniques, Cytological,Cytologic Technic,Technic, Cytologic,Technics, Cytologic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals