RESPONSE OF MALE DOMESTIC RABBITS (ORYCFOLNGUS-CUNICULUS) TO INGUINALGLAND SECRETION FROM INTACT AND OVARIECTOMIZED FEMALES

European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of both sexes possess a varie ty of skin glands important in chemical communication. These include s izable inguinal glands, the strong-smelling secretion from which accum ulates in conspicuous pouches of skin on either side of the genital op ening. To test the hypothesis that this secretion advertises sexual re ceptivity in females, inguinal gland secretions from nine intact and s ix ovariectomized females were presented on dummy rabbits or in a simu ltaneous choice paradigm, and the responses of nine stud males to thes e secretions were recorded. Although the males clearly perceived the s timuli, no differences in responses to secretions from the intact and ovariectomized does were observed, and no differences were found in th e size, weight, or secretory activity of the does' glands. It is concl uded that inguinal gland secretion plays little role in communicating sexual receptivity in female rabbits and that ovarian steroids play li ttle part in regulating inguinal gland activity.