Effect of the presence of females on plasma testosterone concentration of male marsupial bandicoots, Isoodon macrourus, housed in enclosures.
To determine whether the presence of sexually active females influences the reproductive processes of the male bandicoot, plasma testosterone concentrations were monitored in males isolated from females. Blood samples were obtained weekly from 8 male bandicoots housed with females and from 12 male bandicoots in an enclosure without females. Reproductive tracts were obtained from 7 of the male bandicoots of the latter group during the breeding season. In both groups plasma testosterone increased prior to the start of the breeding season and was not influenced by the absence of adult females. There was no significant difference in testosterone concentrations between groups at any time of year. Testicular, epididymal, and prostatic weights of males housed without females were similar to those reported for male bandicoots housed with adult females during the breeding season. These results demonstrate that the seasonal change in reproductive function in the male are not mediated via the female.
Department of Anatomy, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
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Gemmell
D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone