Temperature-Induced Phase Shift of Daily Rhythm of Serum Prolactin in Gulf Killifish

Authors

Richard E. Spieler, Milwaukee Public MuseumFollow
Teresa A. Noeske, Milwaukee Public Museum
Albert H. Meier, Louisiana State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Nature

ISSN

0028-0836

Publication Date

1978

Abstract

Daily variations in circulating levels of the pituitary hormone prolactin have been reported in several vertebrates, including fishes. In some animals, the 24-h rhythm changes seasonally with respect to the time of day that maximum and minimum prolactin levels occur. It has been hypothesised that this seasonal change in phase of prolactin rhythm is an important component of the mechanism controlling seasonality in vertebrates. Because water temperature is generally considered the principal environmental regulator of seasonal changes in reproduction and metabolism in many fishes, including the gulf killifish Fundulus grandis, we determined the daily rhythm of serum prolactin concentrations in fish held at temperatures that are stimulatory (20 °C) or inhibitory (28 °C) for reproductive development. We found that an increase in water temperature from 20° to 28 °C phase shifts the daily variation of serum prolactin with respect to the daily photoperiod in F. grandis.

DOI

10.1038/271469a0

Volume

271

Issue

5644

First Page

469

Last Page

470

Comments

©1978 Nature Publishing Group

NSUWorks Citation

Richard E. Spieler, Teresa A. Noeske, and Albert H. Meier. 1978. Temperature-Induced Phase Shift of Daily Rhythm of Serum Prolactin in Gulf Killifish .Nature , (5644) : 469 -470. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/201.