Interrelationships of the Pineal Gland, the Superior Cervical Ganglia and the Photoperiod in the Regulation of the Endocrine Systems of Hamsters1

Abstract

Removal of the eyes causes regression of the reproductive organs, adrenal glands and the pituitary gland of adult male hamsters, while in eyeless females only the uteri exhibit significant decreases in weight. In both sexes, pinealectomy or superior cervical ganglionectomy counteracts the effects of blinding. Removal of the pineal gland combined with superior cervical ganglionectomy in nonblinded hamsters had no effect on the size of the reproductive or endocrine organs studied. (Endocrinology79: 1168, 1966)