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These studies have all shown that the sebaceous glands have a direct androgen dependence for growth and maintenance. This paper reports this androgen-dependent phenomenon in another species, the eastern wood rat, Neotoma floridana. This rat has a specialized mi d\x=req-\ ventral gland that is much more pronounced in males during the breeding season than in females (Rainey, 1956;Spencer, 1968).To determine the relationship between testicular weights and glandular area (length width), 15 male rats (ranging in weight from 17-441 g) were castrated. Weight, length, and width of the testes were recorded, as well as the area of the ventral gland. The influence of androgen on glandular development was examined using two littermate juvenile females. Female rats were used to negate the effects of possible rising androgen concentration in young male animals. One was given daily s.c. injections of 0-5 mg testosterone propionate (TP) in corn oil for 14 days. The other was used as a control and given daily injections of corn oil only. To determine androgen influence on gland maintenance, four adult male rats were castrated and two others were given sham operations, and then allowed 20 days to recuperate. On day 21, a series of daily 0-8 mg TP injections was initiated on the four experi¬ mental animals and continued for 7 days. Gland area was measured every other day from days 0 to 28. To determine the effect of ovarian hormones on gland maintenance, two adult female rats were ovariectomized and the glandular area was measured every other day for 3 weeks. All animals were housed singly and the light : darkness cycle was not controlled.A direct correlation exists between the wet weight of testes (g) and ventral gland area (mm2) ; r = 0-95, < 0-005. A partial correlation, to rule out the effects of body weight, revealed a smaller, but still significant, correlation between testicular weight and gland area (r = 0-83; < 0-005).The juvenile female given injections of TP showed massive enlargement of the ventral gland tissue, both in number of gland alveoli and overall gland size, compared with the control female. External appearance of the ventral gland remained un¬ changed until day 12, at which time the experimental female began to develop a few sebum globules at the hair bases along the midline of the venter. By day 14, when

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