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RFRP-3 synchronized with photoperiods regulates the seasonal reproduction of striped hamsters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2021

Huiliang Xue ,
Jinhui Xu ,
Lei Chen ,
Lei Zhao ,
Ming Wu  and
Laixiang Xu Open the ORCID record for Laixiang Xu [Opens in a new window]
Huiliang Xue
Affiliation:
College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
Jinhui Xu
Affiliation:
College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
Lei Chen
Affiliation:
College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
Lei Zhao
Affiliation:
College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
Ming Wu
Affiliation:
College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
Laixiang Xu*
Affiliation:
College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China
*
Author for correspondence: Laixiang Xu. College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, 57 Jingxuan West Road, Qufu, Shandong, 273165, China. E-mail: xulx@qfnu.edu.cn
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Summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of RFRP-3 synchronized with photoperiods on regulating the seasonal reproduction of striped hamsters. The striped hamsters were raised separately under long-day (LD; 16 h light/8 h dark), medium-day (MD; 12 h light/12 h dark) or short-day (SD; 8 h light/16 h dark) conditions for 8 weeks. RFRP-3 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA levels in the hypothalamus, testis or ovaries in three groups were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Melatonin (MLT), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations in serum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between RFRP-3 and GnRH mRNA and FSH and LH concentrations was also analyzed. MLT negatively regulated the expression of RFRP-3. Significant differences for RFRP-3 mRNA existed in the three groups, which positively correlated with the GnRH and the FSH and LH concentrations. RFRP-3 mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were significantly higher than those in ovaries or testis. RFRP-3 levels in the hypothalamus were significantly lower in female than in male under SD conditions, while those in ovaries were significantly higher than those in testes under LD conditions. MLT decreased RFRP neuron activity, and RFRP-3 regulated the reproduction of striped hamsters.

Keywords

PhotoperiodRFamide-related peptide-3Seasonal reproductionStriped hamsters
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , pp. 305 - 311
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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