HPLC法测定黄芩叶、花、种子中褪黑激素的含量

应用高效液相色谱荧光检测系统测定了昼夜两个时间点黄芩鲜叶中褪黑激素的浓度 差别,同时也检测了花、种子中褪黑激素的含量。结果表明,夜间和白天采集的新鲜叶片昼夜含量不同,分别为1.6503 ng/g和0.5163 ng/g。在花和种子中也检测到褪黑激素。尽管目前对褪黑激素在植物中的作用尚不完全清楚,但是有关植物中褪黑激素含量的研究将对营养、医药和农业等提供有益的信息。     

Bt抗、感种群亚洲玉米螟幼虫取食Bt玉米后Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白在其体内的组织分布与含量

采用ELISA方法检测了实验室汰选的对Cry1Ab产生107倍抗性的亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)种群与敏感种群3龄幼虫取食表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的Bt玉米心叶后,杀虫蛋白在幼虫体内的分布情况。结果表明：Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白在抗性种群幼虫中的组织分布情况与敏感种群相近,主要存在于中肠组织和血淋巴中。抗、感种群中均以含有内含物的中肠组织中含量最高,分别为277.2 ng/g 和104.9 ng/g;其次为血淋巴,分别为93.7 ng/g 和69.5 ng/g;不含内含物的中肠组织中52.7 ng/g 和40.1 ng/g;在丝腺和马氏管组织的含量很低,丝腺中分别为8.5 ng/g和11.7ng/g,而马氏管中分别为6.7 ng/g和6.5 ng/g。脂肪体、生殖器官中未检测到杀虫蛋白。抗性种群中肠组织(含有内含物和不含内含物)中Cry1Ab的含量显著高于敏感种群。幼虫期取食过Bt玉米的亚洲玉米螟发育的蛹、成虫及其卵中均不含杀虫蛋白,说明Bt杀虫蛋白不会通过幼虫取食向蛹、成虫及卵传递。     

亲和色谱和反相高效液相色谱测定菠菜和拟南芥中四氢叶酸代谢物及叶酸的含量(英文)

植物中来源于甘氨酸和丝氨酸的一碳单位转移给四氢叶酸用于四氢叶酸代谢物的生物合成.由于含量低、成份复杂以及稳定性差,植物组织中四氢叶酸代谢物和叶酸的定量分析一度是一个挑战性很强的课题.本研究旨在建立一种可靠方法测定对甲基基团要求不同的植物(例如累积甘氨酸甜菜碱的菠菜与不累积甘氨酸甜菜碱的拟南芥)中四氢叶酸代谢物和叶酸的含量,用于研究这些植物中通过叶酸途径的一碳单位通量.菠菜和拟南芥叶片在金色荧光灯下加液氮研磨,加入大鼠血浆轭合酶粗提物处理,提取物经叶酸结合蛋白琼脂糖亲和色谱柱纯化,用附有荧光和紫外检测器的高效液相色谱仪分离并测定四氢叶酸代谢物和叶酸的含量.菠菜和拟南芥叶片中单谷氨酸型N5-甲基四氢叶酸含量分别是252ng/g和64ng/g,而总N5-甲基四氢叶酸的含量分别是370ng/g和199ng/g.两种植物均检测到少量的四氢叶酸和N5-醛基四氢叶酸,但只在拟南芥叶片而非菠菜叶片中检测到叶酸.实验结果显示,菠菜中单谷氨酸型和多谷氨酸型N5-甲基四氢叶酸的含量均比拟南芥显著增多.这种样品制备和高效液相色谱方法适于测定植物中四氢叶酸代谢物和叶酸的含量.     

转KN1毛果杨细胞分裂素、赤霉素含量及其相关形态结构

为了研究KN1基因超量表达对木本植物生长发育的影响,本研究测定了转KN1基因毛果杨细胞分裂素类激素及赤霉素的含量,并进行表型及解剖结构观察。结果表明,转基因毛果杨植株细胞分裂素类激素ZR、dhZR和iPA的含量分别为14.14ng/g、18.29ng/g和12.43ng/g,明显高于对照的9.44ng/g、12.47ng/g和7.60ng/g,而赤霉素GAs含量为9.61ng/g,低于对照的12.14ng/g,从而引起其植株矮化、分枝增加、叶片增厚、叶色变深、表皮细胞增大、栅栏和海绵组织发达等现象。本研究将为探索KN1基因对木本植物生长发育的影响提供依据。     

丁酸通过增强肝线粒体功能缓解高脂诱导的小鼠肥胖北大核心CSCD

丁酸可以预防高脂日粮诱导的小鼠肥胖和胰岛素抵抗,但是否有治疗作用尚不清楚。本研究证明,高脂日粮诱导小鼠肥胖模型后,用80 mg/mL丁酸钠水溶液灌胃能够缓解肥胖。表观指标检测发现,丁酸钠显著降低肥胖小鼠的肝重(1.24 g±0.03 g至1.08 g±0.04 g)、体重(32.46 g±0.50 g至28.35 g±0.58 g)和附睾脂重(1.33 g±0.13 g至0.81 g±0.08 g)及其与体重的比(4.06%±0.37%至2.83%±0.22%)。葡萄糖耐受实验和血液激素含量检测表明,丁酸钠部分缓解由高脂引起的葡萄糖不耐受,并显著降低血液中瘦素(3.71 ng/mL±0.62 ng/mL至1.50ng/m L±0.26 ng/mL)和胰岛素(2.39 ng/mL±0.30 ng/mL至1.25 ng/mL±0.09 ng/mL)的水平。肝中脂质和糖原的生化检测表明,丁酸钠对肝中的甘油三酯、胆固醇和糖原的含量没有显著影响。通过RT-PCR实验发现,丁酸钠显著上调线粒体β氧化和解耦联相关的关键基因以及线粒体自身编码的8个基因的mRNA水平的表达,Western印迹检测表明,丁酸钠显著升高肝葡萄糖转运蛋白GLUT2和调控线粒体功能的关键蛋白PGC-1α的表达。上述结果提示,丁酸钠可能通过增强肝线粒体功能缓解食源性小鼠肥胖。     

阿拉善荒漠典型植物叶片碳、氮、磷化学计量特征

荒漠植物在水分限制、营养元素相对匮缺的条件下,经过长期的进化适应形成了自身独特的生理生态和生态化学计量特征。在阿拉善荒漠选择52个典型群落类型,分析和研究了54种荒漠植物叶片的碳、氮和磷的化学计量特征。结果表明:荒漠植物叶片的碳(C mg/g)、氮(N mg/g)和磷(P mg/g)含量变幅较大,分别为(379.01±55.42)mg/g、(10.65±7.91)mg/g和(1.04±0.81)mg/g,变异系数分别为0.15、0.74和0.78;C/N、C/P、和N/P分别为66.70±60.81、683.16±561.94、11.53±5.06。元素间相关性分析表明,叶片的C和N不相关(P0.05),C与P显著正相关(P0.05),N和P极显著正相关(P0.01)。从植物功能型的角度分析发现,灌木和1年生草本植物对C的存储能力较低;占整体67%的灌木叶片的N、P含量最低,导致总体N、P含量较低;多年生草本和1年生草本植物叶N含量与灌木植物叶片和整体N含量无差别,而P含量明显高于灌木植物叶片和整体P含量且N/P明显低于灌木植物叶片和总体N/P,导致总体N/P较低。该研究结果与全球和中国尺度的研究相比发现,荒漠植物叶片C、N、P含量和N/P明显偏低,N/P14说明阿拉善荒漠植物在受N、P共同作用的同时更易受N限制。     

黄土高原退耕还草地C、N、P生态化学计量特征对植物多样性的影响

为探讨退耕还草地生态化学计量特征随恢复年限的变化以及其对植物多样性的影响,选取黄土高原不同恢复年限退耕还草地为研究对象,分别为农田（对照）、恢复8 a、15 a、25 a和35 a,测定了植物地上部分和土壤C、N、P含量,并分析了其C：N：P化学计量特征与植物多样性之间的关系。结果表明：（1）总体上,随着恢复年限的增加,植物地上部分C、N、P含量呈现增长趋势,而其C：N、C：P以及N：P呈现降低趋势,其中C含量在恢复35 a时达到最大值（434.95 g/kg）;N含量在农田阶段最高（2.29 g/kg）,P含量在恢复25 a时达到最高（1.23 g/kg）。（2）土壤C、N、P含量及N：P随恢复年限的增加总体上呈现增加趋势,C：N呈现降低趋势,而C：P基本保持不变;土壤C、N、P含量的最大值均出现在恢复35 a,其值分别为10.94 g/kg、0.07 g/kg、0.06 g/kg。（3）随着植物地上部分C含量和C：N的增加,Shannon-Weiner指数降低;植物地上部分C含量和土壤P含量是影响Simpson指数的主要因子,其与植物地上部分C含量负相关,而与土壤P含量显著正相关;Pielou均匀度指数与土壤N含量、N：P、C：P以及植物地上部分C含量等因子正相关;Margalef指数与植物地上部分N含量、P含量等因子正相关。研究表明草地恢复中植物和土壤C：N：P化学计量特征对植物多样性具有重要的影响。     

鄱阳湖湿地两种优势植物叶片C、N、P动态特征

2011年2—6月在鄱阳湖南矶湿地国家级自然保护区逐月测定了灰化苔草(Carex cinerascens)、南荻(Triarrhena lutarioriparia)叶片C、N、P含量及其地上生物量,以阐明鄱阳湖湿地优势植物C、N、P含量及化学计量比动态特征与控制因子,探讨湿地养分利用与限制状况。结果表明：1）两种优势植物叶有机碳含量变化范围分别为365.3—386.6 mg/g和352.6—393.2 mg/g,平均值(?标准差)分别为(375.5?17.4) mg/g和(371.7?12.5) mg/g;叶N含量分别为6.96—17.59 mg/g和5.50—20.68 mg/g,平均值分别为(11.35?1.40) mg/g和(11.54?0.84) mg/g;叶P含量变化范围为0.65—2.14 mg/g和0.57—2.25 mg/g,平均含量为(1.56?0.69) mg/g和(1.55?0.68) mg/g。两种植物C:N、C:P、N:P平均值分别为37.65、413.60、9.62和41.05、410.29、9.57,C、N、P及其化学计量比种间差异不显著(P>0.05)。2）气温与地上生物量是N、P及其化学计量比季节变化的主要控制因子,气温和生物量对两种优势植物叶片氮、磷含量的影响要高于对叶有机碳含量的影响。3）植物C:N、C:P与地上生物量变化趋势基本一致,显示N、P养分利用效率随植物的快速生长而提高;根据两种优势植物及土壤N、P含量与化学计量比来判断,研究区植物更多地受氮限制。     

菜籽饼提取物抑制黑色素生成作用

为了研究菜籽饼提取物对黑色素合成的抑制作用,为菜籽饼提取物作为美白化妆品的天然添加剂提供实验依据。采用ABTS法、DPPH法检测菜籽饼提取物清除自由基的能力,测定A-375黑色素细胞中酪氨酸酶活性和黑色素含量,并利用各自的试剂盒检测A-375细胞中抗氧化相关因子(MDA, SOD, GSH)。研究结果表明:菜籽饼提取物具有清除DPPH和ABTS的能力,对DPPH和ABTS的半数抑制率分别为304μg/mL和305.8μg/mL。菜籽饼提取物具有显著的抑制A-375黑色素的作用,药物作用48 h后,其IC50为113.3μg/m L,同时能够显著的降低黑色素的含量和酪氨酸酶的活性。与空白对照组(17.66 mol/ng)相比,菜籽饼提取物能显著降低A-375细胞内MDA含量,其抑制率为9.21 mol/ng,且能够显著提高SOD的含量,当浓度为125μg/m L时,SOD的含量较空白对照组提高了36.54 U/mL,与此同时,菜籽饼提取物亦能增加GSH的含量,当浓度为62.5μg/mL时,细胞中GSH的含量为6.43 mol/ng,其含量显著高于空白对照组。因此,菜籽饼提取物在降低黑色素含量、抑制酪氨酸酶活性的同时,也能够通过显著的抗氧化能力和清除自由基的能力,抑制A-375细胞中黑色素的生成。     

丁酸通过增强肝线粒体功能缓解高脂诱导的小鼠肥胖

丁酸可以预防高脂日粮诱导的小鼠肥胖和胰岛素抵抗,但是否有治疗作用尚不清楚。本研究证明,高脂日粮诱导小鼠肥胖模型后,用80 mg/mL丁酸钠水溶液灌胃能够缓解肥胖。表观指标检测发现,丁酸钠显著降低肥胖小鼠的肝重（1.24 g ± 0.03 g 至1.08 g ± 0.04 g）、体重（32.46 g ± 0.50 g至28.35 g ± 0.58 g）和附睾脂重（1.33 g ± 0.13 g至0.81 g ± 0.08 g）及其与体重的比（4.06% ± 0.37%至2.83% ± 0.22%）。葡萄糖耐受实验和血液激素含量检测表明,丁酸钠部分缓解由高脂引起的葡萄糖不耐受,并显著降低血液中瘦素（3.71 ng/mL ± 0.62 ng/mL至1.50 ng/mL ± 0.26 ng/mL）和胰岛素（2.39 ng/mL ± 0.30 ng/mL至1.25 ng/mL ± 0.09 ng/mL）的水平。肝中脂质和糖原的生化检测表明,丁酸钠对肝中的甘油三酯、胆固醇和糖原的含量没有显著影响。通过RT-PCR实验发现,丁酸钠显著上调线粒体β氧化和解耦联相关的关键基因以及线粒体自身编码的8个基因的mRNA水平的表达,Western印迹检测表明,丁酸钠显著升高肝葡萄糖转运蛋白GLUT2和调控线粒体功能的关键蛋白PGC-1α的表达。上述结果提示,丁酸钠可能通过增强肝线粒体功能缓解食源性小鼠肥胖。     

High levels of melatonin in the seeds of edible plants: possible function in germ tissue protection

The seeds of plants represent the anlage of the next generation and are vital to their existence. Melatonin has been identified in the leaves and flowers of plants but not in seeds. In this study, we examined the seeds of 15 edible plants for the presence of melatonin which was extracted using cold ethanol. Melatonin was initially identified by radioimmunoassay and subsequently quantified and confirmed using high performance liquid chromatography. The physiological concentrations of melatonin in the 15 seeds studied ranged from 2 to 200 ng/g dry weight. The highest concentrations of melatonin were observed in white and black mustard seeds. This level of melatonin is much higher than the known physiological concentrations in the blood of many vertebrates. Since the seed, particularly its germ tissue, is highly vulnerable to oxidative stress and damage, we surmise that melatonin, a free radical scavenger, might be present as an important component of its antioxidant defense system. Thus, melatonin in seeds may be essential in protecting germ and reproductive tissues of plants from oxidative damage due to ultraviolet light, drought, extremes in temperature, and environmental chemical pollutants.     

Temperature effects on endogenous indole-3-acetic acid levels in leaves and stamens of the normal and male sterile 'stamenless-2' mutant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

The indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentration in leaves and stamens of the normal and a temperature-sensitive male sterile ‘stamenless-2′ (sl-2/sl-2) mutant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), grown under three temperature conditions, was measured by gas chromatography — mass spectrometry — selected ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM) and by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). At low (LTR, 18°C day/15°C night), intermediate (ITR, 23°C day/18°C night), and high temperatures (HTR, 28°C day/23°C night), the mutant leaves had approximately 10 to 20 times higher IAA concentrations, respectively, than the normal leaves under these temperature regimes. Similarly, the stamens of mutant flowers had approximately five and eight times higher IAA concentration at ITR and HTR, respectively, than the normal flowers. In the low temperature reverted mutant stamens, however, the level of IAA was similar to that in normal stamens. Also, with an increase in temperature, there was an increase in the level of IAA in the leaves and stamens of mutant plants. However, different temperatures had no appreciable effect on the IAA content of leaves and stamens of normal plants. It is suggested that the high IAA content in leaves and stamens of the stamenless-2 mutant is one of the factors associated with male sterility and carpellization of stamens in this mutant.     

Night work,light exposure and melatonin on work days and days off

We aimed to examine the effects of night work on salivary melatonin concentration during and subsequent to night work and the mediating role of light. We included 254 day workers and 87 night workers who were followed during 322 work days and 301 days off work. Each day was defined as the 24 hour period starting from the beginning of a night shift or from waking in the mornings with day work and days off. Light levels were recorded and synchronized with diary information (start and end of sleep and work). On average, participants provided four saliva samples per day, and these were analyzed for melatonin concentration by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Differences between day and night workers on work days and days off were assessed with multilevel regression models with melatonin concentration as the primary outcome. All models were stratified or adjusted by time of day. For light exposure, we estimated the total, direct and indirect effects of night work on melatonin concentrations obtaining 95% confidence intervals through bootstrapping. On work days, night workers showed 15% lower salivary melatonin concentrations compared with day workers (?15.0%; 95% CI: ?31.4%; 5.2%). During the night, light exposure mediated a melatonin suppression of approximately 6% (?5.9%, 95% CI: ?10.2%; ?1.5%). No mediating effect of light was seen during the day time. On days off, we observed no difference in melatonin concentrations between day and night workers. These findings are in accordance with a transient and partly light-mediated effect of night work on melatonin production.     

Effect of a melatonin implant on the circadian variation of plasma prolactin and rectal temperature in newborn sheep.

Plasma prolactin and rectal temperature show a circadian rhythm in newborn sheep raised under continuous light. Melatonin lowers the concentration of plasma prolactin but it is not known if it affects its circadian rhythm. To detect whether melatonin acts on the circadian system we studied the effect of a subcutaneous melatonin implant in the circadian rhythms of prolactin and rectal temperature in newborn lambs raised under continuous light. We placed catheters in the pedal artery and vein in 9 newborn lambs (2-5 days of age). A subcutaneous melatonin implant was placed in 4 of the lambs at 9-12 days of age. Blood samples and rectal temperature measurements were obtained hourly for a period of 24 h, 11-15 days after the implant, at 20-27 days of age. To avoid interferences of heparin in our melatonin assay, serum melatonin concentration was measured before and during the implant in three additional newborns. Prolactin and melatonin were measured by RIA. Melatonin concentrations were 52.8 +/- 45.9 pg/ml (day) and 315.5 +/- 77.0 pg/ml (night) before treatment (SEM, P less than 0.001), and increased to 594.1 +/- 54.5 pg/ml after placing the implant (there was no difference in melatonin concentration between day and night during the time that the implant was in place). Melatonin had no effect on rectal temperature or its rhythm, but decreased basal plasma prolactin concentration (control: 97.5 +/- 11.3 ng/ml; treated: 25.1 +/- 2.4 ng/ml, P less than 0.001) and abolished the prolactin circadian rhythm, (Cosinor analysis): control: log prolactin (ng/ml) = 1.8 + 0.26 cos 15 (t - 11.16), p = 0.05; treated: log prolactin (ng/ml) = 1.2 + 0.14 cos 15 (t - 9.43), P = 0.36.     

极小种群浙江安息香的物候观测

浙江安息香(Styrax zhejiangensis)分布于浙江建德林场泷江林区桃花坞,是浙江省特有的极小种群野生植物。为了更好地解析该物种的濒危原因,对浙江安息香进行物候观测,了解其开花、结实和种子生物学特征等。结果表明:浙江安息香花叶同期。花器官和花粉特征与同属植物较为类似,结实率为21%~32%。种子存在形态变异,饱满度不足等现象,以及外种皮致密坚硬导致其透水性差有可能影响其萌发。温差及连续降雨虽然会加重其落花落果。因此,保护该物种需要更多了解其花果实的特性,并加以人工辅助。     

Respiratory potential and Se compounds in pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants grown from Se-enriched seeds

Selenium (Se) has been proved to be an essential element for humans and animals. However, less is known about its effects on plants. Pea plants were treated foliarly once (OT) and twice (TT) with Se solution during their flowering period. Seeds obtained from these plants contained 383 and 743 ng Se g(-1), respectively, and, together with control seeds from untreated plants (UT) containing 21 ng Se g(-1), were sown in soil in a greenhouse. Se content and its chemical form in young plants were studied, and its impact on plant respiratory potential, measured as terminal electron transport system (ETS) activity, determined. ETS activity was highest in young pea leaves with the highest Se content. Higher ETS activity possibly reflected increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in mitochondria. The Se content of leaves and stems of plants grown from control seeds was similar to that in the seed, being around 40 ng Se g(-1). Se concentration in leaves of young plants grown from OT and TT seeds was 605%, and 1340% higher, respectively, than the control, and in their stems 355%, and 680% higher, respectively. The ratio of Se concentrations in OT and TT seeds was the same as in the leaves and stems in the young plants grown from them. SeMet was the major Se compound in Se-rich pea seeds and leaves, comprising 49% and 67% of the total Se content in OT and TT seeds, respectively, and 85% and 79% in the corresponding leaves.     

Melatonin production and light exposure of rotating night workers

Decreased melatonin production, due to acute suppression of pineal melatonin secretion by light exposure during night work, has been suggested to underlie higher cancer risks associated with prolonged experience of night work. However, the association between light exposure and melatonin production has never been measured in the field. In this study, 24-h melatonin production and ambulatory light exposure were assessed during both night-shift and day/evening-shift periods in 13 full-time rotating shiftworkers. Melatonin production was estimated with the excretion of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), and light exposure was measured with an ambulatory photometer. There was no difference in total 24-h aMT6s excretion between the two work periods. The night-shift period was characterized by a desynchrony between melatonin and sleep-wake rhythms, as shown by higher melatonin production during work and lower melatonin production during sleep when working night shifts than when working day/evening shifts. Light exposure during night work showed no correlation with aMT6s excreted during the night of work (p?>?.5), or with the difference in 24-h aMT6s excretion between the two work periods (p >?.1). However, light exposure during night work was negatively correlated with total 24-h aMT6s excretion over the entire night-shift period (p?相似文献   

Plasma melatonin concentrations in hypertensive patients with the dipping and non-dipping blood pressure profile

Some patients with hypertension exhibit disturbed circadian organization in the cardiovascular system. Hormone melatonin can synchronize circadian rhythms and its repeated administration can improve synchronization of rhythmicity in blood pressure (BP). In our study we measured endogenous melatonin production in patients with essential hypertension exhibiting a dipping and non-dipping BP profile. Blood pressure was monitored for at least 24-hr with an automatic ambulatory BP monitor and patients with no decline in BP were classified as non-dippers. Plasma melatonin was measured in the middle of the daytime and night-time by radioimmunoassay. As expected night-time systolic (P <0.05), diastolic (P <0.001) and mean arterial (P <0.001) BP was higher in non-dippers than in dippers. No significant difference was found between both groups in BP during the day. Mean melatonin concentrations were higher during the night than during the day in both dippers and non-dippers. When patients were divided into dippers and non-dippers on the basis of mean arterial or diastolic BP a lower ratio of night/day concentration was determined in non-dippers than in dippers. Our study showed a blunted night/day difference in plasma melatonin concentrations in hypertensive patients with the non-dipping profile in diastolic BP indicating disturbances in the circadian system of these patients.     

Plasma melatonin concentration in neonatal northern elephant seals,Mirounga angustirostris

The development of pineal function in northern elephant seals was examined in an attempt to understand the physiological basis for previously observed high daytime levels of melatonin in neonatal southern elephant seals. Pineal glands from four northern elephant seal pups, estimated age less than 1 week, weighed 3.0 ± 0.80 g, which was significantly less than that previously found in southern elephant seals (4.6 ± 0.35 g). Midday concentrations of plasma melatonin in pups averaged more than 3000 pmol/l in the first 5 days post-partum, but declined rapidly to less than 400pmol/l after day 9. Daytime melatonin levels in northern elephant seals tended to be lower than in southern elephant seals, although they were very high compared with other species. A circadian cycle of plasma melatonin concentration was observed in newborn northern elephant seals, with levels of 3000–5000 pmol/1 during the day, rising to more than 10,000 pmol/1 late in the dark phase. Soon after weaning at 4 weeks of age, daytime and night-time levels were in the range 60–100 pmol/1 and 100–400 pmol/1, respectively. When approximately 10 weeks old, most samples were in the range 100–400 pmol/1 with no discernible difference between day and night levels. The results do not support the hypothesis that the pineal gland is involved in thermogenesis in new-born southern elephant seals. Instead, the very active pineal gland may contribute to energy conservation, by lowering body temperature, particularly at night. As physical insulation is acquired by the deposition of blubber, the mechanism is not required and melatonin falls to adult levels.