Enhanced serum oestrogen levels and highly steroidogenic, luteinized atretic follicles in the ovaries of the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) kept under a short photoperiod from birth

Department of Farm Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University,Yalelaan 7, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: In contrast to the elaborate information available on the effects of the photoperiod on the testes of hamsters, little is known about the influence on their ovaries. This study aimed to describe the ovarian follicular development and steroid hormone production in Djungarian hamsters kept from birth under a short daylight regime. DESIGN AND METHODS: Female Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were kept under two different light regimes: (i) 16 h light:8 h darkness (long daylight; LD) and (ii) 4 h light:20 h darkness (short daylight; SD). They were killed at 28, 56 and 80 days after birth; blood and ovaries were collected. Ovaries were either fixed in Bouin's solution or frozen. Fixed material was dehydrated, embedded in paraffin, serially sectioned at 5 microm and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, whereafter all healthy and atretic follicles were classified and counted. 3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) was histochemically demonstrated in 10 microm sections of frozen ovaries. Serum oestradiol-17beta and progesterone levels were determined by RIA. RESULTS: The numbers of healthy preantral and antral follicles were higher in LD than in SD hamsters. Antral follicles did not significantly differ in number during development in LD hamsters, but they were completely absent from 80-day-old SD animals. In LD animals the number of apoptotic preantral follicles dramatically increased with age. In SD animals the numbers of apoptotic antral follicles strongly decreased with age, whereas numerous non-apoptotic follicles with luteinized granulosa cells and a degenerated oocyte appeared, and in increasing numbers with age. During development, moderate 3beta-HSD activity was present in interstitial cells, theca cells of healthy follicles, and in both theca and granulosa cells of degenerating follicles. Strong enzyme activity was found in the hypertrophied granulosa cells of luteinized atretic follicles. Mean serum progesterone values varied from 2 to 6 nmol/l and were not different in LD and SD hamsters. Mean serum oestradiol levels varied from 132 to 542 and 325 to 2353 pmol/l in LD and SD hamsters respectively. The highest oestradiol levels were found in SD animals at day 28 of development. CONCLUSIONS: Folliculogenesis was dramatically disturbed in Djungarian hamsters raised under a short photoperiod. These animals developed high serum oestradiol levels and numerous luteinized atretic follicles with highly steroidogenic granulosa cells, which appear to be the source of the increased serum oestradiol levels.

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