Effects of simulated hypo- and hyper-reproductive conditions on the characteristics of circadian rhythm in hypothalamic concentration of serotonin and dopamine and in plasma levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and testosterone in Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica.

TLDR: It is suggested that administration of 5‐HTP and L‐DOPA at specific time interval and variation in pineal functions that modulate reproductive responses also alter the circadian pattern (acrophase and amplitude) of hypothalamic serotonin and dopamine, maintaining a specific phase relation between these cycles and breeding status.

Abstract: In this study, hypo‐ and hyper‐reproductive conditions, as measured by concentrations of plasma testosterone in male Japanese quail held on long days LD 16:8, were experimentally simulated with injections of 5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP) and L‐dihydroxyphenylalanine, (L‐DOPA) with 8 h and 12 h phase angle differences between them in intact and melatonin‐treated birds. The effects of these treatments were assessed on the characteristics of the circadian rhythm in the hypothalamic concentration of serotonin (5‐HT), dopamine (DA), and plasma levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and testosterone (T). These rhythms were also studied in sham‐operated (SO), pinealectomized (Px), vehicle‐ (Veh), and melatonin (Mel)‐treated birds. On the basis of the circadian mesors of the testosterone rhythms, three distinct categories could be identified: category A (i.e., normal breeding concentrations of plasma testosterone), which includes control, sham‐operated, and vehicle‐treated groups; category A+ (i.e., conce...