Effects of different doses of cyproterone acetate (CA) on preputial gland structure and activity in intact male mice

The preputial is an androgen-dependent structure which appears to be used in pheromonal signalling in rats and mice. The structure of representative glands from intact oil injected male laboratory TO strain mice was contrasted with tissue from intact counterparts treated with the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate (CA). Sixteen days of an i.m. application of a modest range of CA doses (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/day given as oily solutions) and a variety of control treatments were used to assess influences on the structure and function of the preputial. The glands of intact male mice treated with oil were well-developed and actively secreting with parenchymatous acini at different stages of maturation. Such glands are generally highly Sudanophilic, with the lipophilic stain concentrated in acini in frozen sections and many acini are compressed by their neighbours to assume irregular shapes. Wax and frozen preputial sections from intact subjects treated with 0.5 or 1.0 mg CA were, in contrast, less well-developed and had fewer and smaller lipid droplets. Treatment of counterparts with 2 mg CA reduced acinar number and diameter in both wax and frozen sections with a concomitant increase in the proportion of connective tissue. The data confirm that this anti-androgen antagonizes the androgen secreted by the testis and adrenal cortex in terms of its expression of function on the preputial gland. These data provide further evidence that cyproterone acetate's suppressive actions on murine aggression are primarily via its ability to depress the secretion of odour cues that facilitate attack.     

Hormonal regulation of preputial gland function in male Microtus montanus, the montane vole

1. Preputial gland function in male Microtus montanus is androgen-dependent, both in terms of preputial weights and in the production of a series of lipids which are present in M. montanus and absent from Microtus pennsylvanicus. 2. Production of these species-typical lipids is decreased but not eliminated in castrates, as well as in adrenalectomized castrates treated with corticosterone. Therefore, in the total absence of androgens, a low level of these lipids is still produced. 3. 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 17 beta-estradiol enanthate have limited effects on maintenance of preputial weight, suggesting that testosterone itself is the active steroid in the preputial gland of this species.     

Being affected by the other

Against present trends towards the homogenization and the hegemony of one world intellectual koine, the author underscores the richness contained in the plurality of intellectual styles, discursive paradigms and cultural configurations. He shows that all encounters encompass a tragic dimension, that of power and dependence, that cannot be neutralized by the most sensitive individual empathy. Seven rules are finally offered for guiding Western and non-Western scholars on the road towards the transnational and transcultural dialogue.

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Sommaire La richesse que représente le pluralisme des styles intellectuels et la multiplicité des configurations discursives et culturelles est mise en paralléle avec l'appauvrissement qu'engendre le processus d'homogénéisation et d'hégémonie croissante d'une koine intellectuelle à prétention universelle. L'auteur souligne la dimension tragique qui s'inscrit dans toute rencontre, une dimension de pouvoir et de dépendence qui ne peut être annulée par les meilleures qualités individuelles d'empathie. Pour guider les scientifiques tant occidentaux que non-occidentaux sur la voie du dialogue transculturel et transnational, l'auteur présente brièvement sept règles.

     

Sex pheromone production by preputial gland: the regulatory role of estrogen

The present contribution reviews progress in the identificationof molecular and metabolic events that underlie the synthesisand secretion of putative sex attractants by preputial glands.The participation of androgens and peptide hormones, alone andtogether, in modification of glandular structure and functionis briefly summarized. Special emphasis is given to recent findingswhich define the interaction of estrogens with specific receptorsof preputial acinar and ductal cells from the female rat. Changesin the basal metabolic and biochemical characteristics of thelatter cells as a consequence of estradiol-receptor bindingappear to contribute to hormone-induced secretion of sex pheromone(s).Evidence for the preferential attraction of male rats to thehormone-dependent, odoriferous secretion of female preputialglands is reviewed. Although the attractant substance in femalesecretions remains to be purified and characterized, speculationon its probable nature is considered. The combined data suggestthat further investigation of the suspected preputial gland-olfacto-hypothalamo-pituitarygonadalcircuit in the rat may provide an important model to examinethe complexities of endocrineexocrine interrelations in sexualcommunication among mammals.     

Aggression toward groups of male and female OF1 mice by a male congenere and survival to acute hypoxia]

In OF1 mice, a 107 day-old mouse, isolated since 51 days, acts as an "aggressor" when introduced into a group of 10 males or into a group of 10 females of the age of 51 days. This results in fights and flights in the males' group and in copulations in the females' group. In 31 experiments, each performed on a total of 40 males and 40 females, it was observed that an acute DL50 hypoxia (inhalation of nitrogen) provokes a mortality significantly (p less than 0.001) higher in the male "aggressors" (95.16%) than in the groups of 10 aggressed mice (mortality: 64.26% for the males' groups and 52.65% for the females groups). Besides, compared to control groups without male "aggressor", the introduction of the male congener significantly (p less than 0.001) increases the acute hypoxic mortality in the females' but not in the males' groups.     

Ultrastructural and gas-chromatographic analysis of the preputial glands of male nude (nu/nu) mice

Summary The preputial glands of male nude (nu/nu) mice were analyzed by a combination of electron microscopy and gas chromatography to determine whether or not they are affected, like developing hairs and nails, by the nu/nu genotype. Results of the analyses revealed no differences between the glands of nude and normal male mice in either their ultrastructural characteristics or lipid secretory products.     

Induction of estrus in grouped female mice (Mus domesticus) by synthetic analogues of preputial gland constituents.

Two major volatile constituents of the male mouse preputial gland, E,E-alpha-farnesene and E-beta-farnesene, were examined for their role in inducing estrous cycles in grouped female mice. The results indicated that the mixture of the farnesenes was as effective as the homogenate of the intact preputial gland, while the extract of the castrate preputial tissue did not show a pronounced response.     

Identification of alpha-2u globulin in the rat preputial gland by MALDI-TOF analysis

The low molecular mass proteins found in the pheromonal sources such as urine, saliva, glandular secretion etc have been reported as ligand carriers for the processes of chemocommunication in mammals. The preputial gland plays an important role in the production of olfactory signals for pheromonal communication. Thus, in the present study, alpha-2u globulin having molecular mass of 18 kDa has been identified in the preputial gland of Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) by in-gel trypsin digestion and analyzing the resulting peptides by MALDI-TOF. Since preputial gland is one of the major pheromonal sources in rat, the results suggest that alpha-2u globulin might act as a carrier for hydrophobic odorants of preputial gland.     

Sperm migration and selection in the reproductive tract of female mice is mostly affected by male genotype

The aim of the present study is to assess the influence of male and female genotypes on the transport of sperm to the site of fertilization. We mated B10.BR, B10.BR-Ydel and BALB/c males with B10.BR and BALB/c females and then analyzed the quality and quantity of spermatozoa found five hours post coitus in three successive parts of the female reproductive tract. We found that B10.BR and B10.BR-Ydel spermatozoa are very effectively selected by the uterotubaljunction and other barriers of the female genital tract. On the contrary, severely deformed BALB/c spermatozoa appeared to be able to cross selective barriers and were present both in oviducts and in cumulus oophorus. It cannot be excluded that these morphologically abnormal male gametes take part in fertilization. B10.BR-Ydel spermatozoa were very rarely observed above the uterotubaljunction. This shows that in vivo they migrate with delay and with difficulties pass the border between uterus and oviducts. This finding is in agreement with previous in vitro analyzes, which revealed many irregularities in movement of B10.BR-Ydel spermatozoa. Sperm quality and quantity in the reproductive tracts of B10.BR and BALB/c females were convergent if they were mated with males belonging to one strain, proving that migration and selection of spermatozoa in the female genital tract depend mostly on male genotype.