Nyctohemeral rhythmicity of type II thyroxine 5'-deiodinase activity in the pineal gland but not in the Harderian gland of the Swiss mouse.

Type II thyroxine 5'-deiodinase (5'-D) activity in both pineal and Harderian glands of the Swiss mouse was studied. Pineal 5'-D activity exhibited a nyctohemeral profile with a maximal peak value at 05.00 h, which coincides with that for pineal melatonin production. However, no rhythm of 5'-D activity in the Harderian gland could be found. In pineal gland, light at night inhibited the nocturnal increase in 5'-D activity, while isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, could not stimulate the enzyme. In the Harderian gland, neither darkness, nor light or night, or isoproterenol were capable of modifying basal values of 5'-D activity.