INHIBITION OF SEXUAL-MATURATION IN JUVENILE FEMALE AND MALE-MICE BY ACHEMOSIGNAL OF FEMALE ORIGIN

Inhibition of sexual maturation in juvenile female and male mice by a chemosignal of female origin. PHYSIOL BEHAV 55(3) 519-522, 1994.-Matur ation of juvenile house mice (Mus domesticus) exposed to synthetic 2,5 -dimethylpyrazine was compared to the maturation of juvenile male and female mice exposed to urine from adult males and grouped females. Exp osure of juvenile male mice to the synthetic compound significantly in hibited the growth of their testes and sex-accessory glands in a fashi on similar to the urine of adult males and grouped females. The uterin e weight and the presence of ova in the oviducts in females was strong ly affected by synthetic stimuli. The majority of females (76-84%) exp osed either to grouped females' urine or to the synthetic compound did not exhibit significant uterine weight increase and did not achieve p ubertal ovulation before the age of 30 days as it has been reported fo r control mice. It is suggested that 25-dimethylpyrazine delays pubert y of juvenile conspecifics in a population and may function whenever t he living conditions of growing animals are below the level required f or successful reproduction.