EFFECTS OF PHOTOPERIOD ON HYPOTHALAMIC LUTEINIZING-HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE IN THE MALE HAMSTER

Male hamsters were maintained on long (14 h light : 10 h darkness; 14L:10D) or short (6L:18D) photoperiods. Animals on short-days had reduced levels of LH in the serum and anterior pituitary gland, decreased androgen in the circulation and regressed testes and accessory sex organs. These same hamsters had significantly raised concentrations of hypothalamic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH). There was no significant difference in the response to exogenous LH-RH between groups maintained on long- and short-days. Castration significantly reduced levels of LH-RH in the hypothalamus in the long-day animals but had little effect on this parameter in short-day animals which had already undergone testicular regression. The increased levels of LH-RH in the hypothalami of both intact and castrated hamsters on non-stimulatory photoperiods is interpreted as a decreased release of the neurohormone which subsequently results in a decreased release of LH.