Midventral Gland Research Articles

Gruczoł brzuszny u Meriones hurrianae

Histological structure of the mid-ventral gland and its role in scent marking were studied in the Indian desert gerbil, Meriones hurrianae.

Specific carcinogenic effect of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea on the midventral sebaceous gland of the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), given N-methyl-N-nitrosourea iv once weekly for 15 weeks at doses related to the mean lethal dose, developed tumors of the species-specific midventral sebaceous gland. These neoplasms were more frequent in males than females and were histologically classified as sebaceous adenomas or carcinomas of varying differentiation.

Androgen control of the ventral scent gland in Neotoma floridana.

Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, U.S.A. (Received 10 August 1974) Effects of androgens on specialized scent glands (sebaceous type) have been described for a few species of rodents: hamsters (Hamilton & Montagna, 1950), guinea-pigs (Martan, 1962), Mongolian gerbils (Glenn & Gray, 1965), and Prairie deer-mice (Blum, Kakihana & Kessler, 1971; Doty & Kart, 1972). 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 mid-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,

A specific midventral gland in gerbils.

MAMMALIAN skin is rich in specific glands which perform various functions. Dambach1 found a specific midventral gland in Meriones unguiculatus and gave a histological description of it. Other references exist in which attention is directed to the presence of such a gland in Rhombomys opimus2; however, its structure was not studied. The presence of similar glands in other gerbil species also remained uncertain, and thus we endeavoured to bridge this gap. Unfortunately, these glands cannot be distinguished in dry (museum) preparations, so that either living or alcohol and formalin-fixed animals were required. (Part of the material was placed at our disposal by the Zoological Museums of the Zoological Institute of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and of the University of Moscow, and by Mr. V. S. Lobachev (University of Moscow), whom we thank.)

Effect of castration and transplantation on ventral gland of the gerbil.

SummaryThe male gerbil has a mid-ventral gland composed of specialized sebaceous gland units associated with hair follicles. This gland hypertrophies and becomes active at the onset of sexual maturity. In the adult male, the gland is a slightly elevated orange fusiform pad in the mid-ventral line and averages 22.2 mm × 7.4 mm in length and width. The gland functions equally well when transplanted to another site of the body. Castration causes the gland to involute. However, this is reversible by administration of testosterone. The sebaceous glands of the mid-ventral skin of the gerbil are androgen sensitive.