Effect of castration and testosterone propionate on mouse vibrissae.

Vibrissae of normal mice were measured for six cycles starting at birth. Groups of immature male albino mice were castrated at 21 days of age when E, F, G and H (Danforth nomenclature, 1925) vibrissae were in their first cycle of growth. Levels of testosterone in their peripheral plasma were reduced to about one tenth of the normal. The final length achieved by their vibrissae in all subsequent cycles was shorter than that of normal mice. Another group of immature male mice were treated with implants of testosterone propionate to give plasma levels of approximately five to ten times normal. Their vibrissae showed a significant increase in final length in all growth cycles before and after sexual maturation. Vibrissae of adult male mice treated with excess testosterone showed a significant increase in final length at the end of the growth cycle immediately after commencement of treatment. On the other hand, vibrissae of castrated adult mice showed a significant decrease in final length in the second successive cycle after castration. The rate of growth of all vibrissae remained unchanged. Changes in their final length were brought about by changes in the period of growth. Castrated mice had a slightly longer resting period.