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Article Dans Une Revue Behavioural Processes Année : 2001

Effect of melatonin supplementation on the sexual development in European quail (Coturnix coturnix)

Résumé

At the end of their wintering phase, male European quails were exposed to a stimulation photoperiod of light/dark 12:12 h for 10 days to induce sexual development. A daily oral melatonin supplementation was then given to one group Of treated males (N=11) and the alcohol solvent was given to a control group of males (N= 10). These solutions were provided during the final 3 h of the photophase for 28 days, then during the final 4 h for 18 days. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to fat levels. However, 3 weeks after the beginning of melatonin supplementation, the sexual development of the treated birds slowed down. The importance of this decline varied to a greater or lesser degree between individual birds. When melatonin supplementation stopped, sexual development resumed. Activity recordings revealed a decrease in feeding activity when melatonin supplementation was provided. However, this response showed important interindividual variability. The birds that produced the most marked responses to melatonin during the first 3 weeks of supplementation were those that also showed the most obvious decline in sexual development. It seems that, in European quail, a wild migratory species that always shows a natural biological annual rhythm, a melatonin signal could play a role in regulating reproduction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Dates et versions

hal-01308879 , version 1 (28-04-2016)

Identifiants

Citer

Catherine Guyomarc'H, Sophie Lumineau, Berthe Vivien-Roels, Jean-Pierre Richard, Sébastien Derégnaucourt. Effect of melatonin supplementation on the sexual development in European quail (Coturnix coturnix). Behavioural Processes, 2001, 53 (1-2), pp.121--130. ⟨10.1016/S0376-6357(01)00133-4⟩. ⟨hal-01308879⟩
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