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Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in gonadectomized male and female Japanese quail, exposed either to 8 h light: 16 h darkness per day (8L:16D; short days) or to 20L:4D (long days). In both sexes, exposure to long days increased LH levels and in the gonadectomized quail LH continued to rise over several weeks. Eventually the castrated quail had levels about five times higher than the control birds and the ovariectomized quail had levels about 14 times higher than their controls.

Quail kept on short days had low LH levels while birds kept on long days and returned to short days resumed low levels after a delay of some days. Since very high levels of LH occurred in gonadectomized quail only when they were on long days, we conclude that the photoperiodic regulation of LH secretion does not operate solely by adjusting sensitivity to gonadal feedback, but works in a more direct manner.

Ovariectomized females whether on long days (high LH) or short days (low LH) grew masculine plumage and castrated males retained male plumage. This confirms that the ovary is responsible for sexual dimorphism of plumage and shows that the action of the ovary is not mediated by LH (through feedback).

The remaining rudimentary (right) gonad in ovariectomized females did not undergo visible hypertrophy and did not secrete enough hormone to stimulate the cloacal gland or oviduct.