Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-12-6
pubmed:abstractText
Temperate and boreal mammals undergo seasonal changes in pelage that facilitate thermoregulation in winter and summer. We investigated photoperiodic influences on pelage characteristics of male Siberian and Syrian hamsters. Fur density (mg fur/cm2 skin) was measured by weighing the shavings of fur patches removed from the dorsal and ventral surfaces of hamsters maintained in long days (LDs) or transferred to short days (SDs). Patches were reshaved 3 wk later to assess fur regrowth (mg regrown fur/cm2 skin). Fur density was greater in SD than in LD Siberian hamsters after 11 wk of differential phototreatment. The onset of increased fur density in SDs was accompanied by a transient increase in fur regrowth (11-14 wk on the dorsal surface and 7-10 and 11-14 wk on the ventral surface), suggestive of a seasonal molting process. Fur density, body mass, and pelage color of Siberian hamsters returned to values characteristic of LD males after a similar duration of prolonged (>27 wk) SD treatment and appear to be regulated by a similar or common interval-timing mechanism. In Syrian hamsters, dorsal fur density, fur regrowth, and hair lengths were greater in SD than in LD males. Castration increased and testosterone (T) treatment decreased dorsal and ventral fur regrowth in LD and SD hamsters, but the effects of T manipulations on fur density were limited to a decrease in dorsal fur density after T treatment. Decreased circulating T in SDs likely contributes to the seasonal molt of male hamsters by increasing the rate of fur growth during the transition to the winter pelage.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0363-6119
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
293
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
R2363-9
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Photoperiodic and hormonal influences on fur density and regrowth in two hamster species.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. matthew.paul@umassmed.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural