Pineal Gland and Melatonin Affect Testicular Status in the Adult Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris)

Abstract

The effects of the presence or absence of the pineal gland and of melatonin administration were examined on testicular maintenance, regression, and recrudescence in adult male rice rats. Pinealectomy at the beginning of the study caused significant testicular regression in animals housed on both long (16L:8D) and short (12L:12D) photoperiods (Experiment 1). Sham-operated males maintained testicular weight on 16L:8D and underwent testicular regression on 12L:12D. The magnitude of testicular regression in pinealectomized animals was reduced relative to that of sham-operated animals housed on a short photoperiod and occurred on a different time course. Animals pinealectomized after testicular regression had occurred on 12L:12D demonstrated delayed photostimulated testicular recrudescence when housed on 16L:8D, while spontaneous testicular recrudescence was unaffected in animals maintained on 12L:12D (Experiment 2). Administration of melatonin via subcutaneous implants at the beginning of the study (Experiment 3) produced similar effects on testicular function attributed to pinealectomy in Experiment 1. Finally, melatonin implants administered after the testes regressed on 12L:12D delayed both photostimulated and spontaneous testicular recrudescence in animals housed on long or short photoperiods, respectively (Experiment 4). These results suggest a role for both the pineal gland and melatonin at various stages of the annual reproductive cycle of the male rice rat.