Effects of photic history and illuminance levels on male golden hamsters

Four-week-old male hamsters, born and raised in total darkness or in LD 14:10 (hr) were exposed to several low levels of illumination for 14 weeks. Analyses showed that testicular weights were significantly affected by both photic history and illuminance levels. Animals born in the dark possessed larger testes than those born in LD cycles and, further, displayed less responsiveness to levels of illumination below those required to suppress pineal function. While gonadal responses to photic duration may be said to be "all or none," those resulting from insufficient illuminance levels are seemingly graded. Thus, the pineal gland may act indirectly as a photodosimeter at low illuminance levels.