Effects of melatonin implants on reproductive seasonality of male red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Red deer stags were treated with melatonin implants in 2 experiments designed to examine the control of reproductive seasonality. In Exp. 1, stags (n = 24) were allocated to 4 treatment groups: 2 groups were treated with 3 implants per stag each month from 8 November to 5 February (EM) or 9 December to 5 February (LM), 1 untreated group of control stags remained with the melatonin-treated stags (CC) and the other untreated control group remained isolated (IC). Melatonin treatment advanced the seasonal changes in scrotal circumference, liveweight, antler state and coat type compared with control stags. The extent of advancement was greater in EM than LM stags. In EM and LM stags, size of testes regressed rapidly and antlers were cast shortly after melatonin implants became exhausted in March. This was followed by an additional antler cycle and reproductive development and decline from June to November. EM and LM stags became synchronized with control stags 14-15 months after melatonin treatment began. The extra cycle of seasonal changes was more pronounced in EM than in LM stags. In Exp. 2, stags (n = 30) were allocated to 6 treatment groups: 4 groups were treated with 3 implants per stag at monthly intervals for 6 months from 22 June (J), 4 August (A), 16 September (S) and 23 October (O), a further group of stags was treated in the same manner for 12 months from 22 June (Y), and the remaining group was untreated (C). Compared with control stags, testicular regression and antler casting was delayed in Groups J, A and Y. These events occurred at the same time as in control stags in Groups S and O. Subsequent reproductive development was advanced in Groups S and O and delayed in Groups J, A and Y. The results demonstrated that treatment with melatonin implants in November or December advanced reproductive development. However, when stags were treated with melatonin implants from June to August, reproductive development was delayed, indicating a change in response to melatonin treatment during the year. The change in response to melatonin treatment between late winter and early spring was interpreted as a resetting of an endogenous circannual rhythm caused by a photoperiodic cue responsible for initiating the final stages of reproductive regression.