Wetterberg L, Yuwiler A, Ulrich R, Geller E, Wallace R
Science. 1970 Oct 9;170(3954):194-6. doi: 10.1126/science.170.3954.194.
A circadian rhythm has been found in hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity of the pineal gland of blinded 12-day-old rats. Five additional hours of lighting can partly prevent the nocturnal increase in pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity in such rats. Removal of the Harderian gland abolishes this response to light in 12-day-old blinded animals, giving further support to the suggestion that this gland may function as an extraretinal photosensitive organ influencing the pineal gland in blinded suckling rats.
在12日龄失明大鼠的松果体中，已发现其羟基吲哚-O-甲基转移酶活性存在昼夜节律。额外5小时的光照可部分阻止此类大鼠松果体羟基吲哚-O-甲基转移酶活性的夜间增加。切除哈德氏腺可消除12日龄失明动物对光的这种反应，这进一步支持了如下观点：该腺体可能作为一个视网膜外的感光器官，影响失明乳鼠的松果体。
