Abstract
Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were exposed to artificial short days either with access to a running wheel (RW) or without. Within 6 weeks RW hamsters considerably increased their body mass, whereas controls showed the typical body mass reduction. Estimation of paired testis weights indicated a decelerated testis regression in RW hamsters. Subsequent locking of RWs for 9 weeks led to a decline in body mass of RW animals in parallel to controls. Daily torpor was almost completely missing in hamsters with initially unlocked wheels. During the final phase when RWs were again unlocked (3 weeks), body mass of exercising hamsters increased again, while controls reached the nadir in body mass. In comparison to equiponderate long-day (LD) controls the relative liver weight of RW hamsters was significantly increased unlike the relative heart weight. However, the latter tended to be higher than in sedentary LD hamsters. A growth-stimulating effect of wheel running was proven by elongated femora in exercising short-day (SD) hamsters compared to SD controls and suggested by exercise-induced elevation of body mass in a further experiment under continuous LD conditions, indicating a growth-promoting effect of wheel running independent from the photoperiod.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barrett P, Ebling FJ, Schuhler S, Wilson D, Ross AW, Warner A, Jethwa P, Boelen A, Visser TJ, Ozanne DM, Archer ZA, Mercer JG, Morgan PJ (2007) Hypothalamic thyroid hormone catabolism acts as a gatekeeper for the seasonal control of body weight and reproduction. Endocrinology 148:3608–3617
Bartness TJ, Elliott JA, Goldman BD (1989) Control of torpor and body weight patterns by a seasonal timer in Siberian hamsters. Am J Physiol 257:R142–R149
Borer KT (1974) Absence of weight regulation in exercising hamsters. Physiol Behav 12:589–597
Borer KT, Campbell CS, Tabor J, Jorgenson K, Kandarian S, Gordon L (1983) Exercise reverses photoperiodic anestrus in golden hamsters. Biol Reprod 29:38–47
Borer KT, Kuhns LR (1977) Radiographic evidence for acceleration of skeletal growth in adult hamsters by exercise. Growth 41:1–13
Dark J, Lewis DA, Zucker I (1999) Hypoglycemia and torpor in Siberian hamsters. Am J Physiol 276:R776–R781
Duncan MJ, Goldman BD (1984a) Hormonal regulation of the annual pelage color cycle in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. I. Role of the gonads and pituitary. J Exp Zool 230:89–95
Duncan MJ, Goldman BD (1984b) Hormonal regulation of the annual pelage color cycle in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. II. Role of prolactin. J Exp Zool 230:97–103
Figala J, Hoffmann K, Goldau G (1973) Zur Jahresperiodik beim Dsungarischen Zwerghamster Phodopus sungorus Pallas. Oecologia 12:89–118
Freeman DA, Lewis DA, Kauffman AS, Blum RM, Dark J (2004) Reduced leptin concentrations are permissive for display of torpor in Siberian hamsters. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 287:R97–R103
Gattermann R, Weinandy R, Fritzsche P (2004) Running-wheel activity and body composition in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Physiol Behav 82:541–544
Gibbs FP, Petterborg LJ (1986) Exercise reduces gonadal atrophy caused by short photoperiod or blinding of hamsters. Physiol Behav 37:159–162
Heldmaier G, Steinlechner S (1981) Seasonal pattern and energetics of short daily torpor in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Oecologia 48:265–270
Heldmaier G, Steinlechner S, Rafael J, Vsiansky P (1981) Photoperiodic control and effects of melatonin on nonshivering thermogenesis and brown adipose tissue. Science 212:917–919
Kerbeshian MC, LePhuoc H, Bronson FH (1994) The effects of running activity on the reproductive axes of rodents. J Comp Physiol [A] 174:741–746
Klingenspor M, Niggemann H, Heldmaier G (2000) Modulation of leptin sensitivity by short photoperiod acclimation in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. J Comp Physiol [B] 170:37–43
Menet JS, Vuillez P, Saboureau M, Pevet P (2003) Inhibition of hibernation by exercise is not affected by intergeniculate leaflets lesion in hamsters. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 285:R690–R700
Meredith JM, Turek FW, Levine JE (1998) Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse frequency modulation on the reproductive axis of photoinhibited male Siberian hamsters. Biol Reprod 59:813–819
Milette JJ, Schwartz NB, Turek FW (1988) The importance of follicle-stimulating hormone in the initiation of testicular growth in photostimulated Djungarian hamsters. Endocrinology 122:1060–1066
Puchalski W, Heldmaier G (1986) Seasonal changes of heart weight and erythrocytes in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Comp Biochem Physiol A 84:259–263
Rowland N (1984) Metabolic fuel homeostasis in Syrian hamsters: nycthemeral and exercise variables. Physiol Behav 33:243–252
Ruf T, Klingenspor M, Preis H, Heldmaier G (1991) Daily torpor in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus): interactions with food intake, activity, and social behaviour. J Comp Physiol [B] 160:609–615
Ruf T, Stieglitz A, Steinlechner S, Blank JL, Heldmaier G (1993) Cold exposure and food restriction facilitate physiological responses to short photoperiod in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). J Exp Zool 267:104–112
Scherbarth F, Rozman J, Klingenspor M, Brabant G, Steinlechner S (2007) Wheel running affects seasonal acclimatization of physiological and morphological traits in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 293:R1368–R1375
Schlatt S, De Geyter M, Kliesch S, Nieschlag E, Bergmann M (1995) Spontaneous recrudescence of spermatogenesis in the photoinhibited male Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Biol Reprod 53:1169–1177
Simpson SM, Follett BK, Ellis DH (1982) Modulation by photoperiod of gonadotrophin secretion in intact and castrated Djungarian hamsters. J Reprod Fertil 66:243–250
Thomas EM, Jewett ME, Zucker I (1993) Torpor shortens the period of Siberian hamster circadian rhythms. Am J Physiol 265:R951–R956
Vitale PM, Darrow JM, Duncan MJ, Shustak CA, Goldman BD (1985) Effects of photoperiod, pinealectomy and castration on body weight and daily torpor in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). J Endocrinol 106:367–375
Wade GN, Bartness TJ (1984) Effects of photoperiod and gonadectomy on food intake, body weight, and body composition in Siberian hamsters. Am J Physiol 246:R26–R30
Watson-Whitmyre M, Stetson MH (1985) A mathematical method for estimating paired testes weight from in situ testicular measurements in three species of hamster. Anat Rec 213:473–476
Acknowledgments
We thank Prof. Martin Klingenspor for inspiring discussions leading to this study, Marianne Brüning for assistance in determining the fur colour index and Frances Sherwood-Brock for revision of an earlier version of the manuscript. Furthermore, we acknowledge the helpful comments of two anonymous referees. Animal husbandry and all experiments were in accordance with the German Animal Welfare Act and approved by the district government of Lower Saxony (05/1061).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by G. Heldmaier.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scherbarth, F., Petri, I. & Steinlechner, S. Effects of wheel running on photoperiodic responses of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). J Comp Physiol B 178, 607–615 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-007-0251-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-007-0251-7