Preputial glands, dominance and aggressiveness, in mice

Abstract

The preputial glands are androgen-dependent and apparently used in pheromonal signalling in rats and mice. With light and electron microscopy (Lhl and EM) these glands from socially dominant and socially subordinated members of pairs of male laboratory 'TO' strain mice were compared with those from individually-housed counterparts. The glands of both dominant and individually hwsed animals were \\,ell-developed and actively sccreting having acini at different stages of maturation with numerous normal cytoplasmic organelles and healthy oval-shaped nuclei. The glands from subordinated animals were less developed, had fewer, smaller lipid droplets and fewer cellular organelles; the nuclei were shrunken and lobulated; and the cells often contained autophagic vacuoles, which are also found in castrated mice. The data suggest that the reduced gonadal function typical of subordinated niice compared with the other two categories exprcsses itself in preputial structure and function. The aggressiveness induced by 'isolation' cannot be attributed simply to the detrimental effects of 'social deprivation', for this behaviour is also a feature of social dominants. ACKNO\VLEDGEXIENTS The generous funding of the Iraqi Gorernment and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CT 81.257.04.115.3237) is gratefully acknowledged.

Influence of 50 Hz magnetic field on sex hormones and other fertility parameters of adult male rats

“…It has been noted that the size and activity of preputial glands in rodents are clearly influenced by a variety of steroid hormones [Ebling, 1963]. Peputial glands also produce behavior-modulating phermones that alter fighting and other behaviors in rodents [Brain et al, 1983].…”

Social defeat and subordination as models of social stress in laboratory rodents: A review

“…Consequently, the urine from defeated males is less preferred by females than urine from dominants [Jones and Nowell, 1974]. The weight of the preputial gland [Brain et al, 1983;Bronson, 1973;Dijkstra et al, 1992] and the seminal vesicle [Brain, 1972;Bronson and Eleftheriou 1964] is reduced after continuous stress, and testis weight is unchanged .…”

Differential response to the odor of familiar intruder mice in male mice (Mus musculus)

“…The weight of the preputial glands of the dominants is said to increase after they become the dominants and that of the subordinates decreases after they become the subordinates (Bronson 1973). Through this change, the weight of the preputial glands of the dominants becomes significantly heavier than than that of the subordinates (Brain et al 1983;Bronson 1973;Bronson & Marsden 1973). Such a difference in the pheromone-producing gland would inevitably affect the odor of the dominants and subordinates.…”