抄録
Female Wistar rats in persistent estrus under continuous illumination (LL) restored reproductive cyclicity after being treated with sub gonad-inhibiting doses of serotonin (5-HT) or its immediate precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Intraocular injection of 5-HTP (10μg) or 5-HT creatinine sulfate (18μg) was significantly effective. Both subcutaneous dose (100μg) and single intraperitoneal dose (1.0mg/rat) of 5-HTP effectively induced diestrous smear and ovulation, with 2 to 5 days of latency, in approximately 50% of treated rats whether they had been pinealectomized or not. Among control treatments other than changing the photoperiod form LL to alternating light and dark, ether anesthesia alone interrupted the persistent estrus in nearly 50% of the “light estrous rat” of unselected stock colony. Possible mechanism underlaying restorment of estrous cycle from “light estrus” by indole amines was discussed.
