Zur hormonalen Steuerung der Aktivität im Nebenhodengang (Ductus epididymidis) bei Ruineneidechsen (Lacerta sicula campestris Betta)

Summary

• 1. Under natural conditions spermiogenesis in male lizards (Lacerta sicula campestris Betta) shows an annual periodicity which can be divided into 4 phases: a) progression (end of refractory period—March); b) culmination (April– June/July); c) regression (July); d) regeneration = refractory period (August–November/December).

• 2. About February the activation of the germ epithelium starts, but the growth of the Ductus epididymidis (D.e.) and the production of secretion from its wall epithelium cannot be found before the middle of March.

• 3. The same phase-shifting can be observed at the end of culmination, while spermiohistogenesis stops in about June, the secretion of the D.e. goes on and only decreases during July. In cross-sections of the epididymidis the cessation of diameters in the D. e. runs to a minimum in winter.

• 4. Before starting our experiments, we proved the occurrence of LTH in the hypophysis of male lizards (August 1st. 1970) using the pigeon cropsac test of Turner and Grosvenor. We could verify this result in September and October 1970 and in January 1971.

• 5. While Testosteron and ICSH have no effect on the D.e. in refractory animals we got good activity — depending on concentration—after injecting FSH and LTH. This could mean that the D.e. is not a secondary sexual character but belongs to the accessory sexual organ systems. Assurance, however, can only be obtained if experiments with hypophysectomized animals give positive results.

Zusammenfassung

• 1. Behandelt man männliche Ruineneidechsen während der Refraktärperiode mit ICSH, Testosteron, FSH und LTH, so zeigt sich im Ductus epididymidis nur unter dem Einfluß des FSH und des LTH eine positive Reaktion.

• 2. Mit dem Taubenkropftest ließ sich zu verschiedenen Zeiten (August 1970 bis Januar 1971) Prolactin in der Hypophyse männlicher Ruineneidechsen nachweisen.