Paraventricular nucleus projections mediating pineal melatonin and gonadal responses to photoperiod in the hamster.

Knife cuts were placed around the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in order to identify the pathways mediating photoperiodism and pineal melatonin production in male golden hamsters. Cuts in the coronal plane caudal to the PVN, have no effect on photoperiodic control of the testes unless they actually damage the PVN. Bilateral parasagittal cuts at the medial border of the lateral hypothalamus block short photoperiod-induced gonadal regression. Nighttime levels of pineal melatonin are reduced by these cuts, but unaffected by caudal cuts. Projections from the lateral PVN region descending towards the spinal cord appear to be critical for the control of pineal melatonin production and the control of the testicular function by short photoperiod.