Harderian gland: influence on pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity in neonatal rats.

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.