title: Influence of melatonin on pubertal development in male deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).
abstract: The role of melatonin in pubertal development was assessed in male deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) exposed to photoperiodic and social stimuli. Exogenous melatonin retarded puberty in males reared in a long photoperiod, but was without effect in males reared in short days. Melatonin did not retard pubertal development induced by exposure of short-day males to an adult female. These results suggest that pineal melatonin mediates photoperiodic, but not social, control of pubertal development.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010507:Periodicity; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000254:growth & development*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000254:growth & development; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D012931:Social Environment; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin