Early short photoperiod effects in female LSH/SsLak Syrian hamsters

Previous experiments showed that LSH/SsLak female hamsters cease ovarian cyclicity after 2-4 weeks of short photoperiod (SP) treatment. This study was designed to reveal early hormonal and histological changes on day 1 of the estrous cycle (estrus) in SP-treated animals and changes brought about by the SP-induced acyclic condition. Groups of 8-10 animals were killed on day 1 after 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 days of SP treatment; sera and pituitaries were saved for hormone determinations, and ovaries were prepared for histological analysis. Intraatrial cannulae were inserted into anovulatory animals, and blood samples were withdrawn on the first and second postoperative days; the animals were killed on the third postoperative day. PRL levels were significantly reduced in cycling animals after 16 days of SP exposure and diminished further in acyclic animals. Pituitary PRL did not change in cycling animals, although it was highly depressed in SP-treated acyclic animals. The estrous FSH surge, serum LH levels, and pituitary gonadotropin contents were not affected by SP in cycling animals; in anovulatory animals, pituitary gonadotropin contents were significantly increased, and daily afternoon gonadotropin surges were observed. Uterine weights were reduced in cycling animals and underwent a further reduction after cyclicity ceased. Ovarian analysis revealed that all cycling animals had the same number of recruited follicles, yet significantly fewer corpora lutea and an apparent increase in atretic antral follicles were observed after 16 days of SP exposure. These results suggest that SP-induced cessation of estrous cyclicity occurs abruptly. SP does not alter the secondary FSH surge, but might adversely affect maintenance of follicular growth and depress serum PRL levels.