Maternal melatonin communicates daylength to the fetus in djungarian hamsters

Abstract

Daylength (photoperiod) influences the rate of reproductive development In the juveniles of photoperiodic species. Recent studies show that daylength during the prenatal period is perceived by the and that this perception can profoundly influence postnatal reproductive and somatic development. Using photoperiodic Djungartan hamster, we assessed the role of the maternal pineal gland and its hormone, in this prenatal perception of daylength. Maternal plnealectomy eliminated the Influence of photoperlod on testicular and body weights of male pups, suggesting that a product from the maternal gland communicates daylength to the fetus. Infusion of the pineal hormone melatonin into plnealectomlzed for various durations during gestation mimicked the effect of varying the prenatal photoperlod on testicular and body weights. These results indicate that pineal melatonin is involved in this novel form communication from mother to fetus. © 1986 by The Endocrine Society.