Visual Pathway Mediating Pineal Response to Environmental Light
Authors:
- 13 January 1967
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 155 (3759) , 220-223
Abstract
Activity of the melatonin-forming enzyme, hydroxyindole- O -methyltransferase, in rat pineal is increased when the animal is exposed to continuous darkness, and it is decreased by exposure to continuous light. Response to environmental light is initiated in the retina and transmitted to the pineal by way of the central nervous system and the cervical sympathetics. The central visual pathway essential for mediation of this response is the inferior accessory optic tract. Visual pathways to thalamus and tectum do not participate in this response.Keywords
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