Photoperiodic stress on nitrite production by splenic macrophages in fresh-water snake Natrix piscator

Changes in day length enhance or suppress component of immune function in individuals of several species. The purpose of the present experiment was to study the role of photoperiodic manipulation on the nitric oxide production by splenic macrophages in the fresh-water snake, Natrix piscator. To study effect of photoperiod, animals were subjected to 24 hour continuous light and continuous dark for 30 days. Animals kept in natural day length served as control. At termination of experiments, animals were sacrificed, and spleen was excised. Macrophages were incubated for 24 hours and nitric oxide production was measured by measuring the nitrite concentration. Nitrite production was significantly decreased to the cultures obtained from the animals kept under continuous light. No change in nitrite concentration was found in animals kept under continuous dark, when compared to the animals kept under natural day length. The possible role of decreased melatonin synthesis in light is suggested to decrease the nitric oxide production.