PHOTOPERIODIC EFFECTS ON STEROID NEGATIVE FEEDBACK IN FEMALE PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER)

Breeding in prairie voles is mainly restricted to the autumn and winte r of most years. The organization of estrus in female prairie voles is unusual because behavioral estrus is induced by chemosensory stimuli from the urine of adult conspecific males. Isolated females exhibit un detectable levels of estradiol and never display estrous behavior, yet exposure to male urine causes a cascade of endocrine changes that evo ke estrogen secretion from the ovaries and estrous behavior within 24 hr. In the prairie vole, the extreme dependence of estrus on chemosens ory stimuli raises the possibility that their ovaries may be less prom inent in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion than in species with more endogenously organized estrous cycles. The present study examine d the contribution of the ovaries in luteinizing hormone (LH) regulati on in prairie voles. Females were maintained for 9 weeks in either lon g (LD 16:8) or short (LD 8:16) photoperiodic conditions, a blood sampl e was obtained, and then animals were either ovariectomized or receive d a sham procedure. Another blood sample was obtained a week later and assayed for serum LH. Blood serum LH levels were significantly reduce d in short-day voles, compared to long-day animals. After ovariectomy both long-day and short-day voles exhibited equivalent elevations in L H levels. This study provides evidence that photoperiod is measured in female voles and the ovaries appear to produce sufficient steroids to suppress LH release. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.