title: The influence of the parental environment on sexual maturation in male mice.
abstract: Experiments were designed to examine the influence of either one or both parents on the sexual maturation of male mice. A pregnant female and an adult vasectomized male were housed together and, at delivery, the litter was reduced to 6 pups, 3 of each sex. After weaning, mother, foster-father or both, stayed in cohabitation with their pups until sacrifice. The results showed that: (1) the permanent presence of one or both parents did not affect either testicular growth or the age at first fertile matings. (2) in maturing males (30-40 days), seminal vesicle growth was accelerated by the presence of the mother, inhibited by the presence of the foster-father. (3) in maturing males, the presence of one or both parents lowered plasma testosterone levels. On the opposite, in 90-day-old males, the same conditions increased testosterone levels. These results indicate that only the endocrine function of the testis is affected by the parental environment. The effects are age-dependent.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000254:growth & development; D012737:Sex Factors; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D012931:Social Environment; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone