[The effect of castration on the mast cells of the ventral gland of male gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus, Gerbillidae)].

The number of labrocytes increases in male gerbil ventral gland connective tissue, as castration makes epithelial structures enter a resting stage. Inversely, labrocytes number decreases when testosterone injection to castrate males initiates epithelial activity. These variations of mast cells number are not a consequence of changes in gland volume, which only act upon epithelial tissues and do not modify "connective tissue compartment".