Functional Maturation of Neuroendocrine Gonadal Axis is Altered by Specific Phase Relations of Circadian Neurotransmitter Activity in Japanese Quail

The preset study was designed to ascertain the effects of temporal relationship of circadian neural oscillations on puberty attainment and reproductive growth of Japances Quail,Coturnix coturnix japonica,Serotonin and dopamine precursors(5-hydroxytryptophan,5-HTP and L-dihydroxyphenylalanine,L-DOPA,5mg/100g body weight)were injected daily,8and 12h apart in two groups of one-day ld chick,while cotrols received two daily injections of normal saline.Weekly/biweekly observations(body weight,cloacal gland size,testicular volume and activity,ovarian follicular diameter and rate of egg production)were made until 9 weeks of age,when the experiment was terminated.Results indicate that 8 h relationship completely suppressed gonadal growth even under long photoperiod(LD16:8),while a 12 h relationship induced precocious sexual maturity and increased the rate of reproductin(spermatogenesis and egg production).It is concluded that circadian phase relationship of serotonergic and dopaminergic activity may not only determine the onset of reproduction in this pultry species,but may also alter the rate of reproduction possibly by affecting photoperiodic mechanism of reproductive regulation.