ALTERATION OF CIRCADIAN PERIOD LENGTH DOES NOT INFLUENCE THE OVARIAN CYCLE LENGTH IN COMMON MARMOSETS, CALLITHRIX-J JACCHUS (PRIMATES)

To investigate the coupling between the circadian system and the regul ation of the ovarian cycle in nonhuman primates, the effect of Zeitgeb er-induced alterations of the circadian period (23 vs 26 h) on the ova rian cycle length was studied in the long-cycling polyestrous common m armoset, Callithrix j. jacchus. For that purpose, six female marmosets were isolated for -4 months each under artificial lighting regimens o f 23 h [light-dark (LD) 11.5:11.5] and of 26 h (LD 13:13; 300:0.03 1x) . Samples of ''morning urine'' were collected in each circadian period and analyzed by radioimmunoassay for their estrone (E1) and estradiol -17beta (E2) concentrations. Clear ovarian cyclic variations of the cr eatinine-related urinary E1 and E2 concentrations were ascertained in each individual, with the E2 concentrations being 5-10 times higher th an the E1 concentrations. In a total of 48 recorded ovarian cycles, th e cycle length varied between 16 and 39 days and was 28.3 +/- 4.1 days on average. As measured in circadian periods, the marmosets' ovarian cycle was significantly longer (p < 0.05) under entrainment to LD 11.5 :11.5 than under entrainment to LD 13:13. When measured in objective d ays, however, no difference in cycle length was demonstrated. Hence, i n Callithrix, the mechanisms regulating the ovarian cycle length do no t seem to be closely coupled to the circadian system, but rather corro borate the more classic hypothesis presuming that in polyestrous mamma ls different (at most weakly coupled) timing mechanisms or oscillator systems are responsible for the regulation of the circadian and the ov arian cycles.