[Effect of constant illumination on the response to castration in rats]

The effects of constant light from birth on compensatory ovarian or testicular hypertrophy and gonadotropins levels after gonadectomy have been studied. Ovarian hypertrophy was not affected by constant light either in young or adult rats. The degree of testicular hypertrophy increased in young males submitted to constant light without changes in FSH levels after hemicastration. FSH and LH levels after gonadectomy were similar in young and adult females, while those levels were higher for adult males than for young ones. Constant light increases LH and FSH postcastration levels in young males without effects in the other groups.