ABSTRACT:
The blood morphology and chemical constituents of different tissues were studied in freshwater catflsh, Clarias batrachus while in the spawning phase of their reproductive cycle following melatonin treatment either in the morning (O5:OO-06:00) or in the late afternoon (17:00-18:00). Three types of metabolic changes were documented (i) elevation of plasma glucose, liver protein, blood hemoglobin and number of circulating erythrocytes, (ii) acceleration of the process of mobilization of hepatic .as well as muscle glycogen to plasma glucose and (iii) morning only elevation in the level of liver protein, plasma protein and cholesterol. The data presented here demonstrate that melatonin regulates, in addition to reproduction, several other physiological processes in catfish. It could be concluded that melatonin should not be looked at through a narrow window as a transducer of environmental signals (day length alone?); it may also influence vital physiological functions, such as erythropoiesis and intermediary metabolism.
Cite this article:
Shedpure and Pati (1993). Melatonin induced metabolic changes in a fresh water Catfish.Journal of Ravishankar University (Part-B: Science), 6(1), pp. 29-36.