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Maternal transfer of photoperiodic information in Siberian hamsters. III. Melatonin injections program postnatal reproductive development expressed in constant light.

Authors :
Horton TH
Ray SL
Stetson MH
Source :
Biology of reproduction [Biol Reprod] 1989 Jul; Vol. 41 (1), pp. 34-9.
Publication Year :
1989

Abstract

In Siberian hamsters, transference of photoperiodic information from dam to fetus influences pubertal testicular development of the young when reared either in constant light (LL) or postnatal photoperiods of intermediate length (i.e. 14L:10D). The effects of short photoperiods during gestation can be mimicked by administering melatonin to pregnant females. This experiment examined whether there exists a daily pattern of sensitivity to melatonin when it is administered to pineal-intact pregnant females housed on a long photoperiod. Groups of pregnant and lactating females received melatonin at each hour of the day. The young were not treated with exogenous melatonin. At the approximate time of maturation of their endogenous pineal melatonin rhythm (Day 15), the young were placed in LL to suppress pineal melatonin secretion. Young males were killed at 28 days of age. Afternoon (1200 h-2000 h) and late night (0400 h) injections of melatonin into females caused their male young to develop as though gestation occurred on a short photoperiod. Melatonin injections at other times were ineffective. The daily pattern of effectiveness of exogenous melatonin administration to pregnant females resembles that observed in adult males of this and other hamster species and is consistent with the hypothesis that a daily rhythm in sensitivity to melatonin is involved in the transduction of photoperiodic signals.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0006-3363
Volume :
41
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Biology of reproduction
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
2804208
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod41.1.34