title: A comparative study of reproductive and metabolic responses to administration of exogenous melatonin and aldosterone in xeric and mesic spiny mice populations.
abstract: A comparative study of reproduction revealed differences between desert-adapted Acomys russatus and Mediterranean Acomys cahirinus populations with respect to the environmental cues used for reproductive activity. Long day (LD) conditions were noted as initial reproductive cue for both populations. This research is a follow-up affects comparative endocrine and metabolic study in regards to reproduction where LD-acclimated mice were treated with, exogenous aldosterone (ALDO) and melatonin (MLT). Only the reproductive system of A. russatus females was significantly affected by both hormones. In A. cahirinus females, MLT decreased leptin levels, while in A. russatus, a treatment with both hormones increased leptin levels. In A. russatus males, MLT affects both reproductive and metabolic functions. However, in A. cahirinus males, ALDO and MLT treatments caused an increase in leptin levels, and a decrease in free fatty acid (FFA) levels, respectively. Correlations between leptin and FFA in general were affected by both MLT and ALDO treatments in A. russatus males and A. cahirinus females. Our results support the general idea, that although the reproductive system of A. russatus responded to an osmotic stress, in our case expressed by ALDO treatment, which can be considered as an ultimate signal, where, photoperiod changes are an initial signal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel. Electronic address: daele2008@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bukovetzky
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel; The Israeli Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Chronobiology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel. Electronic address: ahaim@research.haifa.ac.il.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haim
keywords: Acomys; Aldosterone; Melatonin; Metabolic status; Photoperiod; Reproductive status; White adipose tissue; Xeric adaptation