Abstract
Specialized integumentary glands have been observed at certain specific body regions of the common house rat,Rattus rattus. Diverse zones such as eyelid, oral angle, prepuce and circum anal possess hypertrophied skin glands. The histophysiological aspects of these integumentary glands are reported. These specialized sebaceous glands have specific behavioural relevance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander K M, Rani P, Nair S S and Santhi S 1982 Specialized integumentary glands of behavioural relevance of some rodents;Proc. All India Symp. on Vector and Vector borne diseases (Abstracts) 68–69
Balakrishnan M and Alexander K M 1977a Specialized mucocutaneous junction glands of the Indian musk shrewSuncus murinus viridescens (Blyth);Acta. Theriol. 22 231–240
Beaver D L 1960 A re-evaluation of the rat preputial gland as a ‘dicrine’ organ from the stand point of its morphology, histochemistry and physiology;J. Exp. Zool. 143 153–173
Bhaskaran G 1982A study on the specialized integumentary glands of the male Indian palm squirrel Funambulus palmarum, M. Phil, dissertation, Kerala University.
Bhaskaran G and Alexander K M 1982 Specialized mucocutaneous junction glands of oral angle and oral lip of male Indian palm squirrel,Funambulus palmarum; Proc. XI Ann. Conf. Ethol. Soc. India, Calicut. Abstracts, p. 16
Bhaskaran G and Alexander K M 1983 A report on the tarsal glands of the male Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) Histophysiology and Hormonal control;Proc. XI Ann. conf. Ethol. Soc. India, Calicut 1–17
Glenn E M and Gray J 1965 Effect of various hormones on the growth and histology of the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) abdominal sebaceous pad;Endocrinology 76 1115–1123
Gleason K K and Reynierse J A 1969 The behavioural significance of pheromones in vertebrates;Psychol. Bull. 71 58–75
Hesterman and Mykytowycz 1968 Some observations on the odors of anal gland secretion from rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus (L)),CSIRO Wildl. Res. 13 17–81
Johnson R P 1973 Scent marking in mammals;Anim. Behav. 21 521–535
Miraglia T and Gomes N F 1969 The meibomian glands of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus);Acta Anat. 74 104–113
Miraglia T, Branco E C and Gomes N F1970 Estrutura a histo quimicades glandular de zeis das palphbras do sagui (Callithrix jacehus)Gaz. Med. Bahia 70 131–136
Montagna W 1971 Cutaneous comparative biology;Arch. Dermatal 104 577–591
Montagna W and Noback 1946a The histology of the preputial gland of the rat;Anat. Rec. 96 41–54
Muller-Schwarze D 1967 Social odours in young mule deer. Paper presented to AAAS, New York;Am. Zool. 7 430–80
Nair S S 1977Studies on some aspects of the ethology of the wild house mouse, Mus musculus castaneus (Waterhouse) with special emphasis on olfactory communication, Ph.D. thesis, University of Kerala
Nair S S and Alexander K M 1981 Specialized integumentary glands of behavioural relevance in wild house mice,Mus musculus castaneus; Proc. Ann. Conf. Ethol Soc. India.
Quay W B 1954a The dorsal holocrine skin glands of the Kangaroo-rat Dipodomys;Anat. Rec. 119 161–175
Quay W B 1954b The meibomian glands of voles and lemmings (Microtinae);Misc. Publ Mus. Zool Univ. Michigan 82 1–17
Quay W B 1955 Histology and cytochemistry of skin gland areas in carribouRangifer;J. Mammal. 36 187–201
Quay W B 1959 Microscopic structure and variation in cutaneous glands of the deerOdocoileus virginianus, J. Mammal. 40 114–125
Quay W B 1962 Apocrine sweat glands in the angulus oris of Microtine rodents;J. Mammal. 43 303–310
Quay W B 1965a Variations and taxonomic significance in the sebaceous caudal glands of pocket mice (Rodentia: Heteromyidae);South West Nat. 10 282–287
Quay W B 1965b Comparative survey of the Sebaceous glands of the oral lips and angle in rodents;J. Mammal. 46 23–31
Quay W B 1968 The specialized posterolateral sebaceous glandular regions in microtine rodents;J. Mammal. 49 427–445
Quay W B 1970 Histology of the para-anal sebaceous glandular organs of the bat.Eonycteris speleae (Chiroptera, Pteropidae);Anat. Rec. 116 189–197
Quay W B and Muller-Schwarze D 1970 Functional histology of integumentary glandular regions in black-tailed deer (Odocoileus kemionus columbianus);J. Mammal. 51 675–695
Quay W B and Tomich P Q 1963 A specialized mid ventral glandular area inRattus exulans;J. Mammal. 49 427–445
Santhi S 1975 Studies on the possible role of defaecation inMus booduga booduga;Abst. Proc. 4th Ann. Conf. Ethol soc. India, Trivandrum
Santhi S, Nair S S and Alexander K M 1975 Urine as a signalling medium in two species of male miceMus musculur castaneus, andMus booduga booduga;Bull Ethol Soc. India 1 11–15
Santhi S and Alexander K M 1977 Olfactory investigation postures in the social interactions of the Indian field mouseMus booduga booduga; Abst. Proc. All India Symp. Environ. Biol.
Schaffer J 1940 (as cited in Mykytowycz 1970)Die Hantdeusen or gam der saugetiere, Berlin, Urban and Schwarzenberg.
Schultze-Westrum T 1965 (as cited in Mykytowycz 1970) Innerarliche vestandigung durch Dutfe bein Gleit beutler,Petaurus breviceps papuanus, Thomas (Marsupialia phalageridae);Z. Vergl. Physiol. 50 151–220
Shorey H H 1976Animal communication by pheromones (New York: Academic Press)
Strauss J S and Ebling F J 1970 Mammals, control and function of skin glands inHormones and environment (eds) G K Benson and J S Phillips (Cambridge: University Press) 341–371
Wynne-Edwards N C 1962 Animal dispersion in relation to social behaviour (London, Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kairali, R., Rani, P. & Alexander, K.M. Specialized integumentary glands of house rat,Rattus rattus . Proc Ani Sci 93, 535–542 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03186302
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03186302