Effect of pineal 5-methoxytryptophol on the male gonads of Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor

Nayni Saxena^a* & Indumati Thakur^b
*^aDeptt. of Zoology, Marwari College, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
^bDeptt. of Zoology, Y.S.College, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.

Received , 15th January, 2013 ;Revised: 15th February, 2013

Abstract : Effect of evening injections of pineal 5-methoxytryptophol (ML) were studied on the testes of shamoperated (SO) and pinealectomized (Px) Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor. 10µg of ML/animal/day administered for 60 days significantly reduced the testes weight, vas deferens weight and testicular cholesterol level in SO as well as Px animals. Similar injections for 30 days failed to have any significant effect. It is suggested that ML has a pineal independent inhibitory influence on the testes of this animal. The duration of administration is critical in producing such an effect.
Key words : Pineal, testes, 5-methoxytryptophol, cholesterol

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