[Effect of lateral septal nucleus damage on the photoperiodic changes in the reproductive system of male rats].

The experiments on the juvenile male Wistar rats (4-5 weeks old) were carried out to show the effects of damage of the lateral septal nucleus (LSN) on the gonads of rats caged under different photoperiodic regimes: natural change of light and dark phases of the day, constant light and darkness for 24 hours. A short (week) exposition of rats to the permanent light or darkness stimulates or inhibits gonads, respectively. Lesion of LSN in rats caged under permanent light or darkness inhibits the morpho-functional state of the reproductive system and hormone-producing function of testes. The changes are much more pronounced in rats caged under permanent darkness. The possible mechanisms of LSN influence on the photoperiodic changes of the reproductive system of male rats are under discussion.