The pineal gland is very large and active in newborn antarctic seals |
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Authors: | M M Bryden D J Griffiths D J Kennaway J Ledingham |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Anatomy, University of Queensland, 4067 St. Lucia;(2) Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, G.P.O. Box 498, 5001 Adelaide, South Australia;(3) Antarctic Division, Department of Science, Channel Highway, 7150 Kingston, Tasmania, (Australia) |
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Abstract: | Summary The pineal gland of newborn elephant seals and Weddell seals is larger than in adult females. The gland is considerably larger at birth in Weddell seals than in elephant seals. The former experience greater extremes of temperature. Plasma melatonin concentrations in excess of 2000 pg/ml were recorded in the first days of life, compared with 20–50 pg/ml in adults.Acknowledgment. We thank members of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Macquarie Island for assistance with collection of elephant seal samples, in particular G. Burns, D. Carroll, G. Copson, R. Ledingham and S. Pye. The support of the National Science Foundation, USA, and personnel at the United States Antarctic Research Program base at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, are gratefully acknowledged. The Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service kindly issued permits to collect specimens at Macquarie Island. |
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Keywords: | Pineal gland melatonin thermoregulation |
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