HORMONAL CONTROL OF THE PUBIC SYMPHYSIS OF THE SKOMER BANK VOLE (CLETHRIONOMYS SKOMERENSIS)

Abstract

SUMMARY Marked pubic separation, comparable to that in the guinea-pig, mouse and deermouse, was observed to occur in the Skomer bank vole towards the end of gestation when the pubic gap measured 4–5 mm. Ovariectomized Skomer voles treated with oestradiol showed a pubic separation of 0·8–0·9 mm., while treatment with oestradiol and relaxin caused a separation of 2·5–4·6 mm. Relaxin alone had no effect.