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The Effect of Pinealectomy on Plasma Levels of Gonadotrophins and Growth Hormone in the Pigeon (Columba livid)
Author(s) -
Rintamäki Hannu,
Hissa Raimo,
Balthazart Jacques,
Scanes Colin G.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1984.tb00228.x
Subject(s) - pinealectomy , endocrinology , medicine , pineal gland , luteinizing hormone , follicle stimulating hormone , hormone , melatonin , biology , ovary
The effects of pinealectomy on plasma follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and growth hormone (GH) concentrations were studied for a period of 9 weeks in pigeons reared under naturally increasing day length. After pinealectomy, plasma LH and GH concentrations decreased in both sexes when compared with sham‐operated birds. In pinealectomized female pigeons, the plasma level of FSH was elevated, while in male birds the effect on FSH was negligible. A trend toward increased weight of testis, ovary, and oviduct was also seen after pinealectomy, but the increase was not statistically significant. The present results suggest that pinealectomy is able to modify the secretion of gonadotrophins and GH in the pigeon and indicate a stimulatory role for the pineal gland in LH and GH secretion and, in female pigeons, an inhibitory role in FSH secretion.