Thyroidectomy of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) prevents photo-induced testicular growth but not the increased hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone

Thyroidectomy of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) prevents the decrease in hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which normally occurs at the onset of photorefractoriness. To extend this observation to another species, changes in testicular mass, bill colour, moult, and hypothalamic GnRH content were monitored in photostimulated and nonphotostimulated intact and thyroidectomized house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Photostimulated intact birds rapidly increased testicular mass and GnRH. Later, testicular mass and GnRH decreased, and birds moulted, as they became photorefractory. Nonphotostimulated intact birds showed an increase in testicular mass and GnRH. Neither photostimulated nor nonphotostimulated thyroidectomized birds showed a marked increase in testicular mass, but both showed an increase in GnRH. Photostimulated thyroidectomized birds showed no subsequent decrease in GnRH and they did not moult. It is suggested that in this species, thyroidectomy inhibits the release of GnRH as well as preventing the downregulation of GnRH synthesis normally associated with the development of photorefractoriness. (C) 1998 Academic Press.