title: Effect of nutrition, temperature and photoperiod on the rate of sexual maturation of the field vole (Microtus agrestis).
abstract: Weanling male and female field voles were placed in long or short photoperiods, kept at 18 degrees C or 4 degrees C, and fed (ad libitum) diets containing 24%, 16%, 8% and 4% protein, for 6 weeks. Animals in the long photoperiod were more sexually mature than were animals in the short photoperiod. Temperatures had no effect on females, but did affect males: those kept at 4 degrees C had heavier testes and wider seminiferous tubules than those kept at 18 degrees C. There was little difference between the animals on 24%, 16% and 8% protein diets. Animals on 4% protein diets had retarded growth rates and were significantly less sexually mature than those on the other 3 diets, males having smaller testes and seminal vesicles and narrower seminiferous tubules and females having smaller ovaries and uteri.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013696:Temperature; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology