Photoperiod-dependent regulation of inhibin in Siberian hamsters: II. Regulation of inhibin production and secretion by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin.

Inhibin production differs in ovaries of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) exposed to long days (LD) or short days (SD). We believe that seasonal differences in serum follicle-stimulating hormone contribute to this difference. However, given the profound photoperiodic differences in follicle maturation, serum gonadotropins alone may not account for all of the observed differences in inhibin processing. To test this hypothesis, we challenged LD and SD female hamsters with exogenous gonadotropins. While both groups responded with increased inhibin expression, the effects were muted in ovaries of SD females and there was no evidence of ovulation in these animals. These data indicate that the ovaries of SD females are not immediately equipped to respond to gonadotropin stimulation. More generally, these data suggest that photoperiodic history affects ovarian inhibin production and secretion in response to gonadotropins.