title: Effects of cold exposure, exogenous melatonin and short-day treatment on the weight-regulation and body temperature of the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how winter acclimatization (WA), exogenous melatonin (MEL) or endogenous melatonin (SD) affect plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations and how leptin and ghrelin contribute to the regulation of different adaptations to wintering in the Siberian hamster.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma leptin and insulin and testicular testosterone concentrations were lower in the WA, MEL and SD groups, whereas the plasma ghrelin concentration was higher due to the WA treatment. In the treated hamsters, body temperatures during photo- and scotophase were lower throughout the study and torpor bouts were observed. The absolute and relative body fat masses were lower in all treated groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Siberian hamsters reduce their feeding in winter, although just the opposite is suggested by the lower leptin concentrations in all treated groups and the higher ghrelin concentration in the WA group. The positive correlation between plasma leptin and testicular testosterone indicates a possible interaction between them. Torpor bouts were related to a lowered body mass and plasma leptin concentration. Exposure to short photoperiod did not induce elevated plasma ghrelin levels; the response required a low ambient temperature together with short day length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. BOX 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: Anne-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.forename: Petteri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nieminen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarela
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017111:Phodopus / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D017440:Photoperiod; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D013739:Testosterone; D008550:Melatonin