The influence of photoperiod and melatonin on testis size, body weight, and pelage colour in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

The role of the pineal gland in the photoperiodic control of reproduction in different hamster species

“…When kept under natural environmental conditions the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) also shows a marked annual sexual cycle similar to that described in the golden hamster (Hoffmann, 1973 Hoffmann, 1979Hoffmann, , 1981aHoffmann, ,b, 1985Stetson and Watson-Whitmyre, 1986 ;Goldman, 1983).…”

Sustained reproductive responses in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) exposed to a single long day

“…Long daylengths promote gonadal development, somatic growth and a dark summer pelage, while short photoperiods inhibit growth and reproductive development and promote appearance of a white winter pelage (Hoffmann, 1973). The response to a change in daylength is rapid relative to that of other mammals.…”

Influence of short days on diurnal patterns of serum gonadotrophins and prolactin concentrations in the male Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus

“…In a variety of seasonally breeding rodents, reproductive activity is inhibited by short daylengths and maintained under long daylengths (Gaston & Menaker, 1967;Hoffmann, 1973Hoffmann, , 1981Zucker et al, 1980). Testicular atrophy, induced by short photoperiod, is correlated with a decline in circulating gonadotrophin concentrations (Berndtson & Desjardins, 1974;Turek et al, 1975) and preceded by a decrease in serum prolactin (Reiter & Johnson, 1974;Goldman et al, 1981).…”