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. 2018 Mar 20;23(3):703. doi: 10.3390/molecules23030703

Figure 2.

Figure 2

The effects of simulated-seasonal changes on the expressions of melatonin synthetic genes, AANAT and ASMT, in pineal gland and serum melatonin levels of hamsters. The animals were raised in the seasonal-simulated system for one month. The system simulated the local winter of 2015 (SM-W) and summer of 2016 (SM-S) climate changes including the temperature, photoperiod and humidity. The animals were sacrificed at 9–10 pm on the days of simulated winter solstice and summer solstice, respectively. Pineal glands were collected for melatonin synthetic gene expression assay, and serum was collected for melatonin assay. Animals were sacrificed under dim red light. A and B: mRNA and protein levels of AANAT, respectively; C: Serum melatonin level; D, E and F: mRNA, protein levels and activity of ASMT, respectively.The data were expressed as means ± SDs of 16 hamsters each group. The gene expressions were normalized against housekeeping gene actin and the changes was analyzed with the 2−△△Ct method. * Significant difference vs. SM-S.