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Development and hormonal control of territorial marking in the male mongolian gerbil ( Meriones unguiculatus )
Author(s) -
Lindzey Gardner,
Thiesen D. D.,
Tucker Ann
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420010206
Subject(s) - gerbil , testosterone propionate , hormone , endocrinology , castration , medicine , testosterone (patch) , scent gland , physiology , biology , androgen , anatomy , ischemia
Male Mongolian gerbils were either castrated or sham operated at 30 days of age. Assessment of territorial marking was carried out every 6 days beginning at 52 days of age and extending to 100 days of age. After each marking test, 10 intact males received 640 μg testosterone propionate subcutaneously; 10 other intact animals and 10 castrates received oil injections. The ventral sebaceous scent gland, used by the gerbil to deposit sebum on objects during the marking response, was measured after each test. Behavioral marking and the scent gland were entirely absent in castrates. Relative to controls, marking in hormone‐treated animals began earlier and reached higher frequencies. Gland development was also responsive to the hormone, but lagged behind marking activity.