ABSTRACT
The pinealectomy technique consists of the surgical removal of the superficial pineal gland. This procedure allows the ablation of circulating indoles produced by this gland. Withdrawal of systemic melatonin, a pineal hormone, affects animal circadian rhythms and induces several physiological changes that are the subject of many investigations. In this chapter, we describe the pinealectomy protocol adapted to rats. We describe the animal placement on the stereotaxic fixation system, and the procedure for the pineal gland removal and animal recovery from surgery.
Subject(s)
Melatonin , Pineal Gland , Animals , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Pineal Gland/physiology , Pineal Gland/surgery , Pinealectomy , RatsABSTRACT
Pineal microdialysis is characterized by the real-time monitoring of melatonin, neurotransmitters, metabolites, and other compounds released by the pineal gland throughout 24 h. It is a technique with great advantages that allows in vivo study of the ongoing pineal gland metabolism. In this chapter, we describe the entire process of pineal microdialysis that includes probe manufacturing, surgical procedure for its implantation, and the sample collection process.
