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SEBACEOUS GLANDS ON THE HINDQUARTERS OF THE VOLE, MICROTUS AGRESTIS

Sexually mature male voles, Microtus agrestis, in our colony develop oily fur on the hindquarters at the age of about 3 months. In the following 1 to 2 months, hair is lost from these regions revealing raised patches of bright pink skin. Each patch is about 20 mm long and 15 mm wide, has a coarse texture, one or two characteristic folds (Pl. 1, Fig. 1) and a musty odour. Histologically, the skin contains very greatly enlarged holocrine sebaceous glands (Pl. 1, Fig. 2). These specialized sebaceous patches persist for as long as 14 months. They do not occur in females.

In view of the significance of androgens in the control of the growth and activity of sebaceous glands (Ebling, 1963), the rôle of the testes and of androgen in the maintenance and development