Abstract
Department of Anatomy, The University, Glasgow, G12 8QQ (Received 6 December 1976) The Harderian gland is located within the orbit of most terrestrial vertebrates. Whilst normally considered to lubricate the eye, recent reports for laboratory rodents suggest that it is a link in a retinal–pineal–gonadal axis (Clabough & Norvell, 1973) and/or a source of pheromones (Ebling, Ebling, Randall & Skinner, 1975; Thiessen & Rice, 1976), although supporting evidence for the latter is lacking. In the golden hamster there are marked sex differences in gland histology and products; moreover, the gland is under androgenic control in the male, while in the female it exhibits both cyclic and seasonal variations in weight and productivity (Hoffman, 1971; Payne, McGadey, Moore & Thompson, 1975, 1977). This suggests that Harderian gland pheromones (if produced) could give information on the sex and hormonal status of the individual. It is known that male golden hamsters show more
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