THE FUNCTION OF SUPPLEMENTARY SACCULI AT THE OPENINGS OF CHEEK POUCHES OF CAMPBELL HAMSTER, PHODOPUS-CAMPBELLI (CRICETIDAE, RODENTIA)

The effects of removing of supplementary sacculi at the openings of th e cheek pouches on growth and development of youngs were studied. Youn gs of 47 litters (256 individuals) were housed with parents whose supp lementary sacculi had been removed. The youngs were divided into three experimental groups. In group I, one young in a litter had a part of supplementary sacculus. In group II, none of the youngs had supplement ary sacculi, but they ere given sacculus content collected from intact hamsters. In group III, youngs received no sacculus content. It was s hown that deprivation of supplementary sacculus content resulted in an increase of youngs mortality, inhibition of growth and of general and sexual development, increase of adrenal gland mass, and in diseases o f gastrointestinal tract accompanied by gaseous abdominal distension. The extent of these negative effects significantly increased from the I-st to the III-rd group. It had been observed in preliminary experime nts that removing supplementary sacculi did not affect youngs developm ent if they were housed with intact parents. The mechanisms of the phe nomena described are to be studied.