Date of Award

Summer 1993

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

Program/Concentration

Biology

Committee Director

Robert K. Rose

Committee Member

Barbara Hargrave

Committee Member

Mark Butler

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.B46 A23

Abstract

A non-estrogenic hormone, 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), found in young growing grasses, has been shown to be a reproductive initiator in several herbivorous rodents. However, the mechanism by which 6-MBOA initiates reproduction has not been determined. Many believe that 6-MBOA represents a reliable cue that the vegetative growing season has begun, but it is unknown whether this hormone is a primary cueing mechanism or if it works in conjunction with other environmental factors. Therefore, a controlled laboratory experiment was conducted using male and female Sigmodon hispidus, the hispid cotton rat, to determine whether different dosages of 6-MBOA (4μg, 40μg, and 400μg/liter of a 4: 1 petroleum ether and ethanol solution coated on lab chow) had an effect on the reproductive condition of this species after three weeks. Results showed that there was no significant effect of 6-MBOA on the reproductive condition of either sex, based on changes in the weights of testes, seminal vesicles, uteri, and secondary sex characteristics.

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DOI

10.25777/hn3k-vx47

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