Oviposition patterns and plasma melatonin rhythms in response to manipulations of the light: Dark cycle

Abstract

1. In 2 experiments with Single Comb White Leghorn hens, the effects of different light:dark cycles (LD-cycles) upon oviposition patterns and plasma melatonin rhythms were studied. In experiment 1, a 28-h ahemeral LD-cycle (12L:16D) was used. In experiment 2, a normal 24-h LD-cycle (16L:8D) was applied and the effects of a sudden 8-h forward or backward shift of the 8-h dark period (that is phase-advanced or phase-delayed LD-cycle) were studied. 2. The oviposition patterns as well as the plasma melatonin rhythms were fully synchronised with both LD-cycles (24-h or 28-h). The 2 rhythms were gradually re-synchronised after phase shifts, and the melatonin response phase-led the oviposition response by 2 cycles. Thus, the change of the melatonin rhythm coincided with the change of the (presumed) open period for LH-release. 3. In the unchanged 24-h LD-cycle, ovipositions occurred almost exclusively (98.9%) during light hours, whereas in the 28-h LD-cycle, ovipositions occurred primarily (84.5%) during the last 9 h of the dark period. 4. In both LD-cycles and after changes of the LD-cycle, light always suppressed plasma melatonin, regardless of previous light history. During dark periods, concentrations were elevated but, interestingly, only if darkness had also been experienced during the same time period 24 h earlier. This indicates that light has a direct inhibiting effect upon pineal melatonin release, while actual melatonin release during darkness is controlled by an endogenous clock.