Nocturnal patterns and up-regulated excretion of the melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in the diurnal rodent Psammomys obesus post-weaning under a short photoperiod

P. obesus displays elevated body temperature and oxygen intake during the dark phase after weaning under short photoperiods.

• Body temperature and oxygen intake were generally high during the light phase in the diurnal rodent.
• After weaning, P. obesus showed a shift to elevated body temperature and oxygen intake during the dark phase under short photoperiods.
• The urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin increased alongside the nocturnal activity of the enzyme responsible for melatonin synthesis.
• The cDNA encoding P. obesus pineal AANAT shares 90.2% homology with rat AANAT and 83.8% with human AANAT.
• AANAT-mRNA levels exhibited a robust diurnal rhythm, peaking at night, without enhancement in the post-weaning phase.

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