Summary
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1.
Hibernation of golden hamsters begins after about 2 months exposure to cold and dark, occurs repeatedly for a further 6 months and then ceases. Constant light reduces the frequency of hibernation only slightly.
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2.
There is an inverse relation between occurrence of hibernation and gonadal activity. Continuous exposure to dark or cold or both induces gonadal involution within 30–60 days and spontaneous recrudescence of gonads occurs after about 7 months under these conditions. Application of testosterone prevents hibernation.
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3.
Gonadal functions are not the only factor involved in the control of hibernation. Castration has a slightly positive effect on hibernation and in castrated individuals hibernation ceases after several months in the cold, similar to controls.
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4.
Application of melatonin to golden hamsters exposed to cold and dark does not influence hibernation pattern. The effect of cold on gonadal involution and on hibernation is not mediated by the pineal because pinealectomized animals exposed to cold, and intact hamsters kept in continuous light and cold, undergo gonadal involution and hibernate.
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5.
Under controlled laboratory conditions hibernation of golden hamsters can be induced at any time of the year, providing that gonadal activity is maintained at a low level. No strict adherence of hibernation to a circannual rhythm was detected. Exogenous cues are required to establish seasonality of hibernation.
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Abbreviations
- PHP :
-
prehibernation period
- FH :
-
frequence of hibernation
- HS :
-
hibernation season
- HB :
-
hibernation bout
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Janský, L., Haddad, G., Kahlerová, Z. et al. Effect of external factors on hibernation of golden hamsters. J Comp Physiol B 154, 427–433 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684450
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684450