Effect of feeding melatonin to red deer (Cervus elaphus) on the onset of the breeding season.
Four non-lactating red deer hinds kept in natural light were each given orally 5 mg melatonin daily in the afternoon from 1 June to 5 October. The time difference between melatonin administration and sunset was 5.5-6 until the end of August, thereafter gradually decreasing to 3.5 h. Onset of oestrous cyclicity occurred in late August and early September, 2-8 weeks in advance of control hinds. A stag given 10 mg melatonin daily shed the antler velvet on 18 July, 4 weeks earlier than untreated stags, and started rutting behaviour in July-August, 2 months before the usual time.
D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000187:drug effects; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
D011374:Progesterone; D008550:Melatonin