Observations on odoriferous and other glands in the Australian wild rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), and the hare, Lepus europaeus P. II. The Inguinal glands

Abstract

The histology and weight relationships of the inguinal glands from about 2000 wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), and 200 wild hares, Lepus europaeus P., have been studied. The inguinal glands of rabbits were smaller that those of hares. In rabbits the glands were largest in the males, but in hares females had the largest glands. In rabbits the weight and secretory activity of the inguinal glands were highest during the breeding season and lowest during the non-breeding season. Hares showed a similar but less pronounced fluctuation. Castration during early life inhibited the growth of the inguinal glands in male but not in female rabbits. The diameter of tubules and the height of the secretory epithelium in the sudoriferous inguinal glands were greater in sexually highly active (socially dominant) male and female rabbits than in sexually inhibited (subordinate) individuals. Changes in the sebaceous inguinal glands were less obvious, although it appeared that lightly secreting glands contained more lipid. No substantial changes were seen in the glands from a small sample of pseudopregnant female rabbits killed at different intervals after oestrus. The results obtained in the course of the study strengthen the view that the secretion (odour) from the inguinal glands is associated with sexual attraction.