Infradian rhythms of serotonin and serotonin‐N‐acetyltransferase in the pineal gland of male rats

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Abstract
The present investigation was carried out to determine whether in the pineal gland of male Sprague‐Dawley rats infradian rhythms with respect to serotonin, serotonin‐N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity, and hydroxyindole‐O‐methyltransferase (HIOMT) can be detected. The serotonin data obtained over a period of 4 weeks and subjected to power spectral analysis suggest the presence of infradian rhythms in the range of 6 and 4.3 days. NAT activity, obtained over a period of 28 days, revealed a 7‐day‐rhythm. A second peak occurring at 2.3 days remained just below the significance limit. HIOMT activity studied over a period of 8 days showed no statistically significant differences between days. It is concluded that in addition to the well established circadian rhythmicity infradian rhythms are present in the rat pineal gland, the possible causes of which are discussed.