Reproductive responsiveness to short photoperiod develops postnatally in male golden hamsters

Maternal photoperiodic history affects offspring development in Syrian hamsters

During the first 7 weeks of postnatal life, short day lengths inhibit the onset of puberty in many photoperiodic rodents, but not in Syrian hamsters. In this species, timing of puberty and fecundity are independent of the early postnatal photoperiod. Gestational day length affects postnatal reproductive development in several rodents; its role in Syrian hamsters has not been assessed. We tested the hypothesis that cumulative effects of pre- and postnatal short day lengths would restrain gonadal development in male Syrian hamsters. Males with prenatal short day exposure were generated by dams transferred to short day lengths 6 weeks, 3 weeks, and 0 weeks prior to mating. Additional groups were gestated in long day lengths and transferred to short days at birth, at 4 weeks of age, or not transferred (control hamsters). In pups of dams exposed to short day treatment throughout gestation, decreased testis growth was apparent by 3 weeks and persisted through 9 weeks of age, at which time maximum testis size was attained. A subset of males (14%), whose dams had been in short days for 3 to 6 weeks prior to mating displayed pronounced delays in testicular development, similar to those of other photoperiodic rodents. This treatment also increased the percentage of male offspring that underwent little or no gonadal regression postnatally (39%). By 19 weeks of age, males housed in short days completed spontaneous gonadal development. After prolonged long day treatment to break refractoriness, hamsters that initially were classified as nonregressors underwent testicular regression in response to a 2nd sequence of short day lengths. The combined action of prenatal and early postnatal short day lengths diminishes testicular growth of prepubertal Syrian hamsters no later than the 3rd week of postnatal life, albeit to a lesser extent than in other photoperiodic rodents.

Effect of different photoperiods on gonadal maintenance and development in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

The role of photoperiod in adult testicular maintenance and body weight and juvenile development was assessed in male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Gerbils were raised on a 14L (14 hr of light) photoperiod. In the first study, adult gerbils with functional testes were transferred to thirteen different photoperiods (0L, 2L, 4L, 6L, 8L, 10L, 12L, 14L, 16L, 18L, 20L, 22L, or 24L) and body weights and testicular size were measured every week for 10 weeks. Body weights were similar in all groups. Testicular regression had occurred in animals housed on 0L, 2L, 4L, 6L, 8L, and 24L by week 10. In the second study, 14L-born prepubertal gerbils were transferred to thirteen different photoperiods as in the first study. Body weights and testicular development were examined for 10 weeks. At the end of 10 weeks the body weights of animals in all groups except 24L were similar to those of adults. Animals in 24L had a lower body weight gain. Exposure to 0L, 2L, and 24L inhibited testicular development and testes weights were significantly different from those of the other groups. These results demonstrate that maintenance of body weight in adult gerbils appears to be independent of photoperiodic signal. Exposure to very long (24L) and short photoperiods (< 10 hr) causes testicular regression in adult gerbils. Moreover, different photoperiods experienced in early life can influence prepubertal testis growth and body weight gain.

Photoperiod and melatonin affect testicular growth in the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris)

Reproduction in rice rats is subject to photoperiodic control and the pineal gland mediates this effect. We examined the effects of the pineal gland hormone melatonin on testicular weight when administered via implants, injections, and infusions. Testicular weight was modified by photoperiod and the size of the melatonin implant. Twenty-millimeter implants suppressed testicular weight in rice rats housed on 12- and 16-hr photoperiods, while those housed on a 14-hr photoperiod were more sensitive to melatonin; in these animals 10- and 20-mm implants inhibited testicular weight. Melatonin implants also prevented rice rats from responding to a change in photoperiod with the appropriate alteration of testicular growth. Melatonin injections inhibited testicular growth when administered before lights out on LD 14:10, but not on LD 16:8. Morning injections had no effect on either photoperiod. Finally, 12-hr duration melatonin infusions inhibited testicular growth in pinealectomized rice rats on LD 16:8, while 6-hr duration infusions were without effect. These data show that the pineal, through the secretion of melatonin, is a phototransducing organ intimately involved in testicular growth in rice rats.

Stress suppresses testicular and body weight in young Syrian hamsters under short photoperiod

Two experiments were performed to investigate the effect of stress on testicular weight and body mass in young adult male Syrian hamsters under long or short photoperiods. We hypothesized that water or food deprivation causes stress and that the amount of stress depends on unpredictable timing of deprivation. More specifically, water or food deprivation on unpredictable days was considered more stressful for animals than regular deprivation on fixed days even if the total lengths of deprivation were the same for the two treatments. Experiment 1 showed that water deprivation on unpredictable days caused more suppressive effects on testicular weight and body mass than that on fixed days under short photoperiod. Experiment 2 indicated that unpredictable food deprivation on a quarter or half of the days throughout the 12-week testing period under short photoperiod also induced more detrimental effects on testes and body growth than predictable deprivation once every 4 days or every other day. These findings clearly suggested that the stress associated with water or food caused more suppressive effects on testicular weight and body mass than the shortage of water or food per se.