Rissman E F, Sheffield S D, Kretzmann M B, Fortune J E, Johnston R E
Biol Reprod. 1984 Sep;31(2):324-31. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod31.2.324.
The role of chemical cues in the delay of puberty in male California voles (Microtus californicus) was investigated. Males that were raised from weaning in bedding from their families were delayed in attainment of adult androgen levels and seminal vesicle weights compared to males raised in clean bedding. In a second experiment, the source of the suppressive cues was examined by rearing males in bedding from unrelated adult males, their fathers, or their mothers. Males reared with bedding from their mothers showed delayed maturation of both androgen levels and seminal vesicle weights, whereas males exposed to bedding from unrelated males were not delayed. Males exposed to bedding from their fathers showed intermediate androgen levels but large seminal vesicles. Thus, chemical cues from the family, particularly the mother, suppress reproductive development in male California voles. These results are discussed in the context of the puberty delay which occurs in natural populations of this species; it is suggested that puberty delay is an adaptive strategy that may be employed by young voles in times of high density and limited resources.
研究了化学信号在雄性加利福尼亚田鼠（Microtus californicus）青春期延迟中的作用。与饲养在干净垫料中的雄性相比，从断奶起就饲养在来自其家族的垫料中的雄性，其成年雄激素水平和精囊重量的达到时间有所延迟。在第二个实验中，通过将雄性饲养在来自无亲缘关系的成年雄性、其父亲或母亲的垫料中来研究抑制信号的来源。用来自其母亲的垫料饲养的雄性，其雄激素水平和精囊重量的成熟均延迟，而暴露于来自无亲缘关系雄性的垫料中的雄性则没有延迟。暴露于来自其父亲的垫料中的雄性显示出中等的雄激素水平，但精囊较大。因此，来自家族的化学信号，特别是来自母亲的信号，会抑制雄性加利福尼亚田鼠的生殖发育。这些结果在该物种自然种群中出现的青春期延迟的背景下进行了讨论；有人提出青春期延迟是一种适应性策略，可能被高密度和资源有限时期的年轻田鼠所采用。
