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Reproductive effects of 6-chloromelatonin implants and/or injections in male and female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Summary. Adult female hamsters were injected each afternoon for 9 weeks with 2·5, 15 or 25 µg of melatonin or 6-chloromelatonin (CM). Each drug resulted in a significant dose-related depression in uterine, ovarian and anterior pituitary gland weights. Additionally, plasma and pituitary concentrations of prolactin fell with increasing dose of either indole whereas pituitary levels of LH and FSH were positively correlated with dose. There was no difference in effectiveness between the two drugs.

Adult male hamsters treated for 10 weeks with daily afternoon injections of melatonin and a blank beeswax pellet had depressed testicular and accessory organ weights and plasma and pituitary concentrations of prolactin. Implantation of a 1 mg melatonin or CM beeswax pellet in hamsters concurrently receiving daily afternoon injections of melatonin prevented the organ weight and hormonal changes, except for plasma prolactin.

Adult male hamsters treated for 10 weeks with daily afternoon injections of CM and a blank beeswax pellet had depressed reproductive organ weights and pituitary and plasma concentrations of prolactin; this depression in hormonal values and organ weights was totally prevented if the CM-injected hamsters were also bearing a beeswax–melatonin pellet.

In conclusion, 6-chloromelatonin is as effective as melatonin with regards to antigonadotrophic and counter-antigonadotrophic effects in male and female Syrian hamsters.

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