title: Ontogeny of the photoperiodic control of prolactin and luteinizing hormone secretion in male and female bantams (Gallus domesticus).
abstract: The development of the photoperiodic responses for prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion was determined in the bantam (Gallus domesticus), which becomes somatically mature at 16-18 weeks of age. Male and female bantams were reared from hatch on short days (8 h light/day) and photostimulated by transfer to 20 h light/day at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Photostimulation at all ages stimulated a robust increase in prolactin secretion in both sexes. Luteinizing hormone secretion was also stimulated except in 4-week-old females and 16-week-old males. It is concluded that the neural pathways involved in the photoperiodic control of LH and prolactin secretion are mature in juvenile bantams well before somatic maturity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Development and Reproduction, Roslin Institute, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Sreekumar
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D010057:Oviducts / Q000502:physiology; D017440:Photoperiod; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone