Puberty delay of bank vole females in a high-density population.
The onset of puberty in bank vole females was studied, with uterine weight, ovarian weight, and the number of large ovarian follicles used as indicators of gonadal activity. Maturation of females born at the beginning of the reproductive season was suppressed by the presence of other females. Puberty of animals born at the end of season was primarily influenced by climatic variation.
D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D003441:Crowding; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology