Secondary sex characteristics and connected physiological values in male fallow deer (Dama dama L.) and their relationship to changes of the annual photoperiod: Doubling the frequency
✍ Scribed by Schnare, H. ;Fischer, K.
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1987
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 653 KB
- Volume
- 244
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-104X
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✦ Synopsis
Five male fallow deer, who were at the time of casting their first antlers, were maintained in a barn with artificial light control. The daylength sequence applied simulated an amplitude which was normal for 52" latitude, but each cycle lasted only 6 months. This photoperiod produced a doubling in frequency of morphogenetic and connected physiological values so that three complete antler cycles were reached within 19 months. Increase in levels of alkaline phosphatase and in concentrations of total-cholesterol (TC) and low-and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C) followed the frequency of light alterations and correlated well with antler formation. On the other hand, an increase in neck circumference as well as increase of creatinine levels correlated well with the hard antler period of fertility as well.