ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
LHRH-neurons
;
Sexual differentiation
;
Photoperiodism
;
Hypothalamus
;
Septum
;
Japanese quail
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Immunocytochemistry was used to determine if photoperiod and/or sex have any effect on the pattern of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) system in the brain of the Japanese quail. Immunopositive perikarya were found within three major areas of the brain: the rostral paraolfactory lobe, the preoptic, and the septal region. A quantitative analysis of LHRH cell numbers was performed on male and female quail after two photoperiodic treatments: sexually mature birds exposed to 24 weeks of 20 h light: 4 h darkness (20L∶4D), and birds with a regressed reproductive system (induced by transfer from a photoregime of 20L∶4D to 25 short days of 8L∶16D). Two-way analysis of variance showed that short-day males display significantly (p 〈 0.05) more immunopositive perikarya (607 + 134) than long-day males (291 + 114), short-day females (293 + 103) or long-day females (330 + 92). The density of LHRH-immunoreactive nerve fibres and the intensity of the immunostaining in the median eminence were always greater in long-day sexually mature quail (male and female) than in animals exposed to 25 days of 8L∶16D. These results demonstrate that the LHRH system of the quail is influenced by photoperiod and mirrors sexual differentiation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00222289
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