Scotophobin A causes several responses in goldfish if the pineal gland is present.

Abstract

Rat scotophobin A increased dark avoidance in goldfish in dark and light avoidance shuttlebox experiments, controlled for general and light cycling-induced swimming activity. A possible site of action for scotophobin was suggested by the reports that dark avoidance was also increased in goldfish by pinealectomy, a treatment which increased shock sensitivity as well. It was found that scotophobin alone decreased the voltage required to induce tail-flip contractures in goldfish. The pineal gland was further implicated in the mode of action of scotophobin when it was found that this peptide suppressed the norepinephrine-induced aggregation of goldfish chromatophores whose state is in part controlled by pineal melatonin. Pinealectomized goldfish became insensitive to the effects of scotophobin upon both light-dark preference and chromatophore aggregation state. There observations strongly suggest that the pineal gland is required for the action of scotophobin.

• Authors: N Satake, B E Morton
• Journal: Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior (Pharmacol Biochem Behav) Vol. 10 Issue 2 Pg. 183-8 (Feb 1979) ISSN: 0091-3057 [Print] United States
• PMID: 572055 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Peptides
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Animals
• Avoidance Learning (drug effects)
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Chromatophores (drug effects)
• Cyprinidae (physiology)
• Female
• Goldfish (physiology)
• Male
• Norepinephrine (pharmacology)
• Peptides (pharmacology)
• Pineal Gland (physiology)
• Swimming
• Time Factors