Superior cervical ganglionectomy: Effect on indolic compounds in rat pineal gland

Four indolic constituents of the pineal gland of rats exposed to light or dark conditions, respectively, were measured by HPLC. Animals that had had both superior cervical ganglia extirpated 8 days before pineal removal and analysis did not show the phasic changes in glandular content of melatonin, serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophol or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. On the other hand, unilaterally ganglionectomized rats displayed the types of response to photic stimulation seen in intact animals for all four compounds. © 1982 Springer-Verlag.