Thyroid hormones are required for the expression of seasonal changes in red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags

Abstract

Experiment 1, from 6 July 1990 (winter) to 8 November 1990 (spring), examined the effect of an early elevation of plasma thyroid hormone concentrations on the expression of seasonal changes in 20-month-old stags. Four stags were injected subcutaneously with 1 mg thyroxine (T4) daily, and four with vehicle only. Plasma T4 concentration was elevated by injection of T4; the mean concentration 24 h after injection was 192 +/- 31 nmol L-1 compared with 58 +/- 5 nmol L-1 in controls on 21 September. However, live weight, testicular diameter, plasma testosterone concentration and moulting underwent similar changes in both groups of animals. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that thyroid hormones are required for the expression of changes that occur during spring and early summer in red deer stags. Thyroidectomized (THX) stags (n = 4) of mixed age (> 22 months old) were given a replacement dosage of T4 or vehicle only (controls) during spring (from 7 September). T4-treated THX stags underwent testicular regression, antler regeneration and spring moult during spring and early summer (October-December), whereas control THX stags did not display these changes. During spring and summer, T4-treated stags gained more live weight (P < 0.05) than control stags. These results show that, in stags, thyroid hormones are required for the expression of seasonal changes and that these changes are not caused by the seasonal elevation of plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones.