AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 246, Issue 1 31-R34, Copyright © 1984 by American Physiological Society
Short photoperiods counteract the effects of ovariectomy on energy balance of voles
J. Dark, I. Zucker and G. N. Wade
Adult female meadow voles maintained from birth in a long photoperiod (14 h
light, 10 h darkness; LD 14:10) were ovariectomized or sham-ovariectomized
and housed subsequently in long or short (LD 10:14) photoperiods for 10 wk.
Absolute and relative daily food intake, body mass, carcass lipid and water
content, and lipoprotein lipase activity of white adipose tissue were
reduced in voles housed in short photoperiods. Ovariectomy resulted in
increases in food intake and body weight and altered carcass composition in
long-day voles, but these changes were negated in voles kept in short
photoperiods. Responsiveness to short photoperiods promotes winter weight
loss and subsequent energy intake savings and counteracts the body weight
increases normally associated with gonadal quiescence and diminished
hormone secretion.
