Experientia

, Volume 35, Issue 11, pp 1529–1530 | Cite as

Photoperiodic effects in the Djungarian hamster: one minute of light during darktime mimics influence of long photoperiods on testicular recrudescence, body weight and pelage colour

  • K. Hoffmann
Article

Summary

In male Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) short photoperiods (L/D 8/16) with additional 1- or 5-min light-pulses 8 h after light-off were as effective as long photoperiods (L/D 16/8) in stimulating testicular recrudescence, increase in body weight and moult into summer pelage. The results are discussed with regard to the hypothesis that the pattern of melatonin release from the pineal gland is important in mediating photoperiodic effects in mammals.

Keywords

Colour Body Weight Melatonin Pineal Gland Short Photoperiod 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Birkhäuser Verlag 1979

Authors and Affiliations

  • K. Hoffmann
    • 1
  1. 1.Abt. AschoffMax-Planck-Institut für VerhaltensphysiologieAndechs(Federal Republic of Germany)

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