Exogenous melatonin affects lipids and enzyme activities in mink (Mustela vison) liver.

Exogenous melatonin as subcutaneous 2.7-mg implants was given to eight female and male minks in late July with an equal number of animals in the control groups. The liver enzyme activities and major lipids of liver and plasma were measured in October-November. Melatonin had very pronounced effects on the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism of the minks and there was also a clear sexual dimorphism. In the males, melatonin decreased the lipase esterase activity of the liver. In the liver of the females, however, melatonin increased the glucose-6-phosphatase activity. Due to melatonin treatment the liver triacylglycerol contents diminished in both sexes. At the same time, in the females the liver cholesterol levels were decreased. In the plasma lipids, the only change was a fall in the polar lipids of the melatonin-treated females. Melatonin seems to be responsible for the metabolic changes associated with the onset of wintering, especially for the acceleration of the deposition of subcutaneous fat reserves. The smaller females experience the effects of exogenous melatonin more rapidly than the males. Perhaps the smaller body size requires an earlier onset of metabolic preparation for the winter.