Lighting conditions affect testosterone feedback sensitivity in castrated rats

It has been shown in the Syrian hamster that a short photoperiod sensitizes the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis of castrated animals to the negative feedback effect of testosterone. There is some evidence that even the reproductive system of the rat, which is generally considered not to be very sensitive to light, can respond to changes in illumination. Therefore, we found it of interest to examine whether alterations in lighting conditions produce changes of sensitivity in the negative feedback effect of testosterone in the rat. We kept intact, castrated, and castrated testosterone-treated animals either in periodic (L:D 12:12) or constant light for 7 days starting 4 weeks after castration. In all 3 testosterone-injected groups, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) was lower in constant than in periodic light. Exogenous testosterone did not decrease the castration-induced elevations of pituitary LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). On the contrary, testosterone increased the pituitary contents of LH and FSH, especially in constant light. We conclude that, in constant light, the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis of the castrated rat becomes more sensitive to the negative feedback action of testosterone.