Summary
Values of pituitary gonadotropic hormone (GTH) were determined throughout a 24 hour period in adult and first-year male White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii), maintained on a photoperiod of 20 hours light, 4 hours darkness. Samples taken every two hours revealed four peaks (Fig. 1) in pituitary GTH (06:00, 12:00–14:00, 18:00, 22:00). During the remaining time, GTH values were at lower levels (the minima approximately 9.0 μg/gland in first-year males and 11.8 μg/gland in adult males). Maximal values in adult males were from 50–125% above minimal levels, and maxima in first-year males reached 50–200% above minimal levels.
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Supported by NIH Predoctoral Fellowships GM-33,458 (to M.H.S.) and GM-36,159 (to J.E.E.) and by NIH Research Grant NB-06187 to Donald S. Farner. The hormones used in this investigation were generously supplied by the Endocrinology Study Section of the National Institutes of Health.
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Stetson, M.H., Erickson, J.E. A daily periodicity in pituitary gonadotropin in White-crowned Sparrows. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 68, 263–267 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298252
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298252