Skeleton Photoperiods Alter Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Responses and Reproductive Function of Siberian Hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Photoperiod (day length) can modulate immune function. Whether these photoperiodic effects on immune function are mediated directly by a circadian photoperiodic time measurement system or indirectly by nonspecific (e.g. stressful) effects of light is unknown. To discriminate between these two possib...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neuroendocrinology 2005-11, Vol.17 (11), p.733-739
Main Authors: Gatien, M. L., Hotchkiss, A. K., Dhabhar, F. S., Nelson, R. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allergic diseases
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Body Weight - physiology
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
circadian rhythms
Cricetinae
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hair Color
Hydrocortisone - blood
Hypersensitivity, Delayed - immunology
immune function
Immunopathology
Light
Male
Medical sciences
Motor Activity - physiology
Organ Size - physiology
Phodopus
Phodopus sungorus
Photoperiod
photoperiodism
Radioimmunoassay
reproduction
Reproduction - physiology
seasonal
skeleton photoperiod
Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies
Testis - physiology
Testosterone - blood
Vertebrates: endocrinology
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Summary:Photoperiod (day length) can modulate immune function. Whether these photoperiodic effects on immune function are mediated directly by a circadian photoperiodic time measurement system or indirectly by nonspecific (e.g. stressful) effects of light is unknown. To discriminate between these two possibilities, Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were housed in either long or short photoperiods (LD 16 : 8 h or LD 8 : 16 h) or in ‘skeleton’ long or short photoperiods (LD 1 : 14 h: LD 1 : 8 h or LD 1 : 6 h: LD 1 : 16 h). In the skeleton photoperiods, both long‐ and short‐day animals received 2 h of light per day. After 10 weeks in their respective photoperiods, hamsters were tested for an antigen specific immune response using a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) model. Reproductive and endocrine responses of hamsters in each of the skeleton photoperiods were equivalent to those in standard long or short days, respectively. Hamsters in skeleton short days and LD 8 : 16 increased DTH responses compared to hamsters in both long‐day groups. DTH responses were equivalent in both long‐day groups. These results suggest that the influences of day length on immune function potentially are due to circadian photoperiodic time measurement systems.
ISSN:0953-8194
1365-2826
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01371.x