[Usefulness of male golden hamsters for experimental reproductive pathology]

Seventy two male Golden hamsters were maintained in normal laboratory conditions (12h light-dark cycle, 20 +/- 2 degrees C) for the annual cycle experiment. Every month 6 animals were sacrificed and testis weight, cauda epididymis weight, caudal sperm number, sperm morphology and body weight were determined. The period of high gonadal activity was found to be from March to the end of July. In September reproductive activity decreased and the low activity period, with azoospermia in some animals, lasted till the end of January. This annual reproductive cycle, shown for the male Golden hamsters, should be taken into consideration when designing new experiments and interpreting their results.