Circadian participation in the photoregulation of testis activity and prolactin secretion in the mink, a short-day breeder

It has been demonstrated that an endogenous mechanism is involved in photoperiodic time measurement in the mink, a short-day-breeding mannal. A study of testicular activity (testicular volume, plasma testosterone concentration) and plasma prolactin level was carried out in sexually resting minks (the experiment began in November). Groups of minks were kept in the natural photoperiod or subjected to different resonance light-dark (LD) cycles (LD 4:8, LD 4:20, LD 4:32, LD 4:44); an additional group of animals was reared in an ahemeral photoperiod (LD 4:16). A rapid increase of testicular activity was observed in control animals or those kept in LD 4:20 (T 24) and LD 4:44 (T 48). In the other groups of animals, those kept in LD 4:8 (T 12), LD 4:32 (T 36), and LD 4:16 (T 20), testicular function remained at rest. Prolactin secretion was, in contrast, stimulated in the groups kept in LD 4:8 (T 12). LD 4:32 (T 36), and LD 4:16 (T 20), and remained low in the groups kept in LD 4:20 (T 24) and LD 4:44 (T 48). These results show that the effects of the different photoperiodic regimens do not depend on the duration of the photophase, but rather on the period of the LD cycles. The LD cycles that allow an increase of testicular function are those that are inhibitory to reproduction in birds and long-day-breeding mammals. To explain these results, it is suggested that in the mink exposure to light during the circadian photosensitive phase induces inhibition of testicular activity and stimulation of prolactin secretion. To explain the opposite effects of a single photoperiod on testicular function and secretion of prolactin, the hypothesis has been advanced that, in the mink, long days might simultaneously inhibit hypothalamic luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) activity and prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF) activity.