ISSN:
1600-079X
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The effects of exogenous melatonin (subcutaneous implants containing 0.031 ± 0.006 mg/gm body mass melatonin) or long photoperiod (18L:6D) on wild-caught adult male hedgehogs were studied. Hedgehogs were implanted with melatonin-filled or empty capsules in May, August, or September, or maintained under long photoperiod from August. Blood samples collected at monthly intervals were assayed for testosterone, melatonin, and thyroxin. Melatonin-filled capsules elevated plasma melatonin concentrations for 4–6 months. Although melatonin administration in May depressed plasma testosterone levels, testicular reactivation was advanced by 1 month the following year, and the characteristic prehibernal gain in body mass was abolished. Melatonin administration in August had no effect on plasma testosterone concentrations but reduced body mass fluctuations before and during hibernation. Hedgehogs receiving melatonin in September recovered early from hibernal body mass loss and showed a 2 month advance in testicular reactivation the following year. Maintaining hedgehogs at 18L:6D photoperiod, however, elevated plasma melatonin concentrations. Testicular reactivation the following spring was delayed by 1 month, ended 3 months early, and testosterone concentrations were depressed. All treatments depressed plasma thyroxin levels. These results suggest that elevated melatonin levels during winter are important in the regulation of endogenous endocrine cycles in the hedgehog. Hedgehogs do not respond positively to melatonin at the end of the breeding season, but are again responsive to melatonin as early as September.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-079X.1990.tb00808.x
