Pinealectomy prevents short photoperiod inhibition of male hamster sexual behavior

Miernicki, Michael; Karp, Jonathan; Powers, J.Bradley

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(90)90145-t

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…One feature of the MEL response system that is poorly understood concerns the effects of photoperiodic history. Apparently response to a particular photoperiod and its associated MEL signal can be influenced significantly by preceding photoperiodic conditions [Hastings et al, 1992b;Karp et al, 1990;Robinson and Karsch, 1987;Hoffmann et al, 19861. The development of photorefractoriness is a particularly robust example of this phenomenon.…”

Section: Future Uses Of Tip: Study Of Other Photoperiodic Phenomenamentioning

confidence: 99%

The timed infusion paradigm for melatonin delivery: What has it taught us about the melatonin signal, its reception, and the photoperiodic control of seasonal responses?

Bartness

Powers

Hastings

et al. 1993

Journal of Pineal Research

500

360

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The timed infusion paradigm for melatonin delivery: What has it taught us about the melatonin signal, its reception, and the photoperiodic control of seasonal responses? J. Pineal Res. 1993: 15: 161-190. Abstract: This review summarizes the evidence showing that the duration of the nocturnal secretory profile of pineal melatonin (MEL) is critical for eliciting seasonally appropriate reproductive physiological and behavioral responses in mammals. We review experiments using the timed infusion paradigm (TIP) to deliver MEL either systemically or centrally to pinealectomized hamsters and sheep. In this paradigm, MEL is infused, usually once daily, for a specific number of hours and at a predetermined time of day. This experimental strategy tests most directly those features of the MEL signal that are necessary to trigger photoperiodic responses. The data suggest that the duration of the MEL stimulation is the critical feature of the MEL signal for both inhibitory and stimulatory effects of the hormone on the photoperiodic control of reproductive development in juvenile Siberian hamsters, and for the photoperiodic control of reproductive and metabolic responses in adult Siberian and Syrian hamsters and sheep. The use of the TIP reveals the importance of the frequency of the signal presentation of MEL and suggests the importance of a period of low-to-absent circulating concentrations of the hormone. The TIP also reveals that the characteristics of the MEL signal that regulate male sexual behavior are similar to those that are critical for reproductive and metabolic responses in Syrian hamsters. We summarize the locations of possible functional MEL target sites identified by combining the TIP with traditional brain lesion techniques. Evidence from such studies suggests that the integrity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) region in Siberian hamsters and the anterior hypothalamus in Syrian hamsters is necessary for the response to short-day MEL signals. The TIP has been used to deliver MEL to putative target sites for the hormone in the brain of juvenile and adult Siberian hamsters. The results of these preliminary experiments suggest that the regions of specific MEL binding in this species, especially the SCN, are effective sites where MEL may stimulate short-day-type responses. In contrast, results from intracranial application of MEL in sheep suggest the medial basal hypothalamus as a critical site of action. Finally, we also discuss potential applications of the TIP for identification of brain MEL target sites, understanding of other photoperiodic phenomena and responses, and resolution of the cellular/molecular basis underlying the reception and interpretation of MEL signals. It is our collective view that the T P has played, and will continue to play, a pivotal role in elucidation of the function of MEL in the photoperiodic control of seasonal mammalian responses and that the duration of the MEL signal is the critical parameter of the nocturnal secretion profile of the hormone for the photoperiodic control o...

show abstract

Section: Future Uses Of Tip: Study Of Other Photoperiodic Phenomenamentioning

confidence: 99%

The timed infusion paradigm for melatonin delivery: What has it taught us about the melatonin signal, its reception, and the photoperiodic control of seasonal responses?

Bartness

Powers

Hastings

et al. 1993

Journal of Pineal Research

500

360

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our results echo those reported in other studies, showing that a short-day pattern of melatonin induces a decrease in gonadal steroid titers in LP male and LP female voles and deer mice and a suppression of reproductive responsive, which is characteristic of SP voles and deer mice (8,9,16). Thus, the current data on meadow voles suggest that melatonin may be involved in the transduction of the photoperiodic effects on circulating gonadal hormone titers, which in turn, mediate odor preferences and self-grooming responses, which may be used by animals to communicate sexual interest and the attractiveness of their odors to conspecifics (16,18,20,33,34,35,39,41). However, some studies on Syrian and Siberian hamsters report that short-day patterns of melatonin during long-day lengths are either independent of the gonadal hormones, independent of melatonin, or both (1,5,7,49,54).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Similarly, exogenous melatonin reduced chin marking, a behavior associated with attracting males in rabbits (26). Interestingly, exogenous melatonin reduced or inhibited the sexual behavior and investigation of female vaginal secretions of LP male Syrian hamsters in some studies (25,31,32,39,40,45), but exogenous melatonin had no effect on their sexual behavior in other studies (6,11). For example, exogenous melatonin had no effect on the sexual behavior of LP female Syrian hamsters (2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, other studies on Syrian and Siberian hamsters report that short-day patterns of melatonin during long-day lengths are either independent of the gonadal steroid hormones, independent of melatonin, or both (1,5,49), and that sexual behavior and other behaviors directed at opposite-sex conspecifics are not affected by melatonin treatment (2,7). Still other studies on male Syrian hamsters, meadow voles, and rats found that exogenous melatonin has mixed effects on behavior, some of which are stimulatory (6,11,29) and some of which are inhibitory (16,25,31,39,40). The results of these previous studies are somewhat intriguing in that they suggest that the effects of exogenous melatonin on circulating gonadal steroid hormones and the behaviors that surround reproduction differ among species of long-day seasonal breeding mammals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Exogenous melatonin administration affects self-grooming and conspecific odor preferences in long-photoperiod meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Ferkin

Leonard

Gilless

2007

Physiology & Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, seasonal differences exist in self-grooming and in odor preferences for conspecifics, two behaviors which facilitate sexual interactions in this species. Both behaviors are mediated by photoperiodically-induced changes in circulating gonadal steroid hormone titers which, in turn, can be transduced by the duration of the melatonin signal that a seasonally breeding animal receives. The goal of this study was to determine whether exogenous melatonin administration affects circulating gonadal steroid hormone titers in meadow voles, and whether it influences their odor preferences and self-grooming behavior to same- and opposite-sex conspecifics. Long-photoperiod voles that did not receive exogenous melatonin had higher testosterone (males) and estradiol (females) titers than did short-photoperiod voles and long-photoperiod voles treated with melatonin for 12 weeks; the latter had similar estradiol and testosterone titers. Long-photoperiod voles that did not receive melatonin preferred the scent marks of long-photoperiod opposite-sex conspecifics and spent more time self-grooming in response to their odors than those of either long-photoperiod same-sex, short-photoperiod same-sex, or short-photoperiod opposite-sex conspecifics. Long-photoperiod voles that received melatonin, however, no longer preferred the marks of long-photoperiod opposite-sex conspecifics and no longer spent more time self-grooming in response to their odors, not unlike the odor preferences and self-grooming behavior of short-photoperiod voles. As a whole, the data suggest that the duration of the melatonin signal is likely involved in mediating the photoperiodically-induced changes in gonadal steroid hormones that mediate a meadow vole's odor preferences for opposite-sex conspecifics and its self-grooming response to those marks.

show abstract

“…This phenomenon was mediated by an effect upon the neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproduction [175]. Later on, it was found in the experiments on hamsters that photoperiod influences copulative behavior only if the epiphysis remains intact [176 ].…”

Section: The Epiphysis and Behaviormentioning

confidence: 97%

Physiology of the epiphysis: Modern concepts

Bondarenko¹

1997

Neurophysiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this review, the information available from the literature and the data obtained by the author about the epiphysis (or the pineal gland), an important neuroendocrine organ, and about its main hormone, melatonin, are summarized. The history of studying the epiphysis and the evolutionary aspects of its activity, anatomy, and physiology are discussed. The results of electrophysiological studies are described, and biochemical aspects of the epiphysis activity are analyzed. The pathways through which photoinformation enterS the pineal gland, and external factors regulating its functioning are described in detail. The data on the physiological effects produced by epiphyseal neurohormones (melatonin is the best studied) and their role in formation of different types of behavior are emphasized.

show abstract

Pinealectomy prevents short photoperiod inhibition of male hamster sexual behavior

Cited by 17 publications

References 41 publications

The timed infusion paradigm for melatonin delivery: What has it taught us about the melatonin signal, its reception, and the photoperiodic control of seasonal responses?

The timed infusion paradigm for melatonin delivery: What has it taught us about the melatonin signal, its reception, and the photoperiodic control of seasonal responses?

Exogenous melatonin administration affects self-grooming and conspecific odor preferences in long-photoperiod meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Physiology of the epiphysis: Modern concepts

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About