Pelage color cycles and hair follicle tyrosinase activity in the Siberian hamster.

Abstract

Hair follicle tyrosinase levels and melanin content, together with serum tyrosine levels have been studied in relation to annual pelage color changes in the Siberian hamster. Tyrosinase levels were found to peak not only at the spring moult when pigmented hair is produced but also at the autumn moult when the hair produced is unpigmented. The melanin content of hair follicles was high in summer and low in winter but serum tyrosine levels did not differ at the spring and autumn moults. These results suggest that some factor must exist to prevent the raised tyrosinase levels of the autumn moult being expressed as melanogenesis and that this factor must be photoperiodically modifiable, being controlled through a neuroendocrine mechanism.