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1	Photoperiod Regulation of Mineralocorticoid Receptor mRNA Expression in Hamster Hippocampus Lance, S J., Miller, S. C., Holtsclaw, L. I, Turner, B A. 12 January 1998 (has links) Hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA expression was increased in male hamsters exposed to 18 days of short photoperiod relative to animals maintained under long day illumination (p < 0.05). Short day hamsters were also characterized by increased weight gain, and heavier adrenal glands (p < 0.05). The larger adrenals showed selective increases in the widths of the zonae reticularis and glomerulosa (p < 0.001). Incidences of torpor and reduced body temperature were observed in the short day animals. No changes were found in reproductive organ weights, systolic blood pressure, open-field behavior, or stress levels of plasma corticosteroids. We conclude that the hamster brain-adrenal axis responds rapidly to changes in photoperiod, raising the possibility that this axis is a primary mediator of shortened photoperiod responses. adrenal cortex hormones (blood) animals cricetinae eating gene expression (physiology) hippocampus (chemistry metabolism) male mesocricetus organ size photoperiod pituitary-adrenal system (metabolism) RNA messenger (metabolism) receptors mineralocorticoid (genetics)