성선자극호르몬 분비호르몬은 시상하부에서 분비되며, 포유동물의 생식에 중추적인 역할을 담당한다. 골든 햄스터는 계절적으로 번식하는 포유동물이며, 생식 활동은 광주기(하루 중 낮의 길이)에 의해 결정된다. 장주기(12.5 시간 이상의 빛)는 생식 능력을 유지시키지만, 단주기(12시간 이하의 빛)는 생식 기능을 억제한다. 성선자극호르몬 분비호르몬과 광주기의 상호 관계를 자세히 조사하기 위하여 랫트 성선자극호르몬 분비호르몬 cDNA를 포함하는 벡터를 여러 농도

Gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH), which is secreted from the hypothalamus, has a pivotal role in the reproduction of mammals. Golden hamsters are seasonal breeding mammal and their sexual activity is determined by photoperiod(length of light per day). Long photoperiod(LP, 12.5 hours of light) maintains the reproductive activity and short photoperiod(SP, 12 hours of light) suppresses it. In order to investigate in detail, the sexual activity was individually examined in SP-housed male golden hamsters received a vector at three different concentrations which contains rat GnRH cDNA. The gonadal regression was significantly(P<0.05) accelerated by the highest concentrations of the vector at 8 and 10 weeks after the treatment in comparison to the other groups. In the light of pulsatile release of GnRH in maintaining reproductive activity, the vector containing GnRH cDNA might secrete the GnRH in a constant high level. These results suggest that the GnRH-containing vector might desensitize the anterior pituitary, leading to acceleration or testicular regression.

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