Identification and diurnal studies of pineal and serum 5-methoxytryptamine in the rat and quail.

Picomole to femtomole per gland/ml levels of 5-methoxytryptamine (5MT) in the pineal gland and serum of the rat and quail were determined, in the absence of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, by using the ultra-sensitive technique of capillary column gas chromatography/electron-capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Diurnal rhythms of pineal 5MT with high levels at mid-light and low levels at mid-dark were found in both species, while serum 5MT levels showed less or no diurnal variations. The definitive presence of 5MT in the pineal gland and blood circulation provides further evidence that it is potentially a neurohormone. Whether 5MT is implicated in the photoperiodic responses and/or other physiological functions of animals, however, remains to be investigated.