关键词: 光周期, 信息传递, 根田鼠, 环青春期, 繁殖发育

Abstract: The effects of photoperiodic information on peripubertal reproductive development of root voles (Microtus oeconomus), are determined by using a factorial experiment which is designed from long and short day light levels in the gestational, lactational and postweaning periods and the juvenile responsive patterns to the maternally derived photoperiodic information is studied. The specific hypotheses tested are that photoperiodic information can stimulate and regulate the reproductive development and growth of root voles; and that the transfer of photoperiodic information exists between the female parents and their offsprings. The results from eight experimental treatments general supported the above mentioned hypotheses, and indicated that the transfer of photoperiodic information indeed exists between the female parents and their offsprings. The reproductive development of male offspring is influenced not only by the maternally derived photoperiodic information but also by the environmental photoperiod during postweaning period; the reproductive development of female offspring is particularly influenced by the transfer of photoperiodic information of gestational and/or lactational period before weaning. That is, the maternally derived photoperiodic information is the main information which affects the reproductive development of the female offspring.

Key words: Photoperiod, Information transfer, Root voles (Microtus oeconoinus), Peripuberty, Reproductive development