[Nursing father--myth or reality? The role of secretions of father-male specific skin glands in survival and of Campbell's hamsters offspring (Phodopus campbelli Thomas, 1905; Cricetidae, Rodentia)].

Biparental Campbell's hamster (Phodopus campbelli) were used for testing the hypothesis that secretions of father-male specific skin glands (midventral gland and additional sacculi) may promote juveniles survival in mother's absence. For the hypothesis testing, juveniles at age 7 or 8 days were left either with father or with mother till day 30, and their survival and growth rate were compared. Amongst males, there were 26 surgically operated specimens (with midventral gland and sacculi removed, group OP, rearing 128 juveniles) and 37 sham operated specimens (group SHAM, rearing 189 juveniles). Control group (where both parents were intact and present) consisted of 28 pairs with 166 juveniles. Separation from female-mother led to significant decrease in pups body weight during first days of experiment; this effect was more pronounced in OP group. The majority of OP pups (92.3% and 52.6% of those separated from mothers on 7th and 8th day, respectively) were to be returned to females due to emaciation threatening their lives ("lost"). In SHAM group the amount of "lost" pups was significantly lower (43.5 and 21.6% respectively, P < 0.001). The data obtained suggest that activity of father-male specific skin glands may be an important factor determining pups survival and growth. Apparently, the glands secretion can be a reserve source of nutritive material for deserted juveniles.