Plasma prolactin and luteinizing hormone during termination and onset of photorefractoriness in intact and pinealectomized European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

Plasma levels of prolactin and luteinizing hormone have been examined in intact and pinealectomized European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) during termination and onset of photorefractoriness. Photorefractory starlings exposed to long (18L:6D) daily photoperiods for 10 weeks were pinealectomized. One week after pinealectomy these birds, along with the intact and sham-operated birds, were transferred to short (8L:16D) daily photoperiods. After 10 weeks on short day lengths the daily photoperiod was switched to long (18L:6D) and the birds remained on this regime for a further 10 weeks. Plasma prolactin and luteinizing hormone were determined prior to pinealectomy and then weekly throughout the experiment. Molt scores were also recorded. Profiles of both the hormones and the molt pattern were similar in pinealectomized, sham-operated, and intact control starlings. In European starlings the pineal gland does not seem to exert significant effects on the photoinduced rise in plasma prolactin and luteinizing hormone seen in photosensitive birds. It is also suggested that pinealectomy has no significant effect on the dissipation and onset of photorefractoriness assessed from plasma luteinizing hormone secretion in this bird.