Endocrinology, Vol 96, 766-772, Copyright © 1975 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

The effect of abrupt lengthening of the photoperiod on the onset of ovulation in gonadotrophin-treated immature rats

CE McCormack

Immature female rats exposed daily to a-14 h photoperiod were induced to ovulate precociously by administering pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMS) at 30 days of age (day 30). In these rats ovulation occurs on day 33 between 0130 and 0330 (midpoint of photoperiod equals 1200). The acute effect on the timing of ovulation of abruptly lengthening the photoperiod by 6 h was investigated in this preparation. When compared with controls kept on a 14-h photoperiod, adding 6 h of light to the beginning of the daily photoperiod (i.e., AM light) advanced ovulation by 2 h; adding 6 h of light to the end of the photoperiod (i.e., PM light) delayed ovulation by 5.5 h; adding 3 h of light to the beginning and to the end of the photoperiod delayed ovulation by 2 h. These results suggest that the time of release of an ovulatory quota of pituitary gonadotrophin may be advanced by exposure to AM light and delayed by exposure to PM light, but the PM light appears to have a stronger effect on the time of gonadotrophin secretion.