Influence of photoperiod on pineal melatonin synthesis, fur color, body weight, and reproductive function in the female Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus.

In order to investigate female Djungarian hamsters' reactions to changes of the photoperiod, the following two experiments were performed. Experiment I: Age-matched female hamsters were exposed to either short (8L:16D) or long days (16L:8D) for 38 weeks. Initially, the short-day group showed a decline in body weight, associated with changes in gonadal function and fur color. This was not maintained by the short-day group which returned, on the most part, to long-day levels, thus becoming insensitive to this regressive lighting regimen. The time courses of these events compare well with those observed in males, which suggests a common mechanism. Experiment II: Two groups of female hamsters were exposed for 8 weeks to either long days or short days. At the end of the test period, the diurnal variations in pineal content of melatonin, serotonin, hydroxyindole acetic acid, and serum melatonin were estimated, revealing marked differences between the two groups. Not only was there a prolongation of melatonin synthesis observed in the short-day animals, but there was also a significant elevation of the melatonin levels when compared to the long-day animals. Together with recent findings in males, these findings lend support to the hypothesis that, in the Djungarian hamster, the elevation of nocturnal melatonin levels may be of additional significance, with respect to the physiological changes induced by short-day photoperiods.