Effect of Permanent Darkness on Rabbit Male Reproductive Function
Effect of Permanent Darkness on Rabbit Male Reproductive Function
Samira Akdader Oudahmane1,2*, Lynda Lakabi1, Assia Kamel2 and Zohra Hamouli-Said2
ABSTRACT
Biological rhythms control many physiological and behavioral functions in mammals, including reproduction. During the development of the reproductive system, testicular growth is primarily influenced by photoperiod, which is influenced by the circadian release of melatonin. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of darkness on the gonadotropic axis in mature male rabbits. This study involed ten male rabbits five of which were placed in complete darkness for 15 days and another five were kept as a control group. After the sacrifice, using the IRMA method, blood samples were collected to estimate the serum LH and FSH hormone levels. Sperm smears were also obtained in order to investigate the morphological structure of the sperm collected. The results revealed morphological alterations in treated rabbits as well as a significant decrease in blood FSH and LH levels when compared to controls, suggesting a relationship between the gonadotropic axis and the pineal gland. The results of this study reveal that factors that activate the gonadotropic axis, such as darkness, can cause alterations in reproductive function, and that this is also dependent on photoperiod duration.
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