http://www.biolreprod.org/content/62/3/806.abstract To test the hypothesis that the primer pheromone responsible for inducing the “male effect” is produced in the sebaceous gland androgen dependently, we examined the correlation between morphological changes of sebaceous glands and the pheromone activity in skin samples taken from castrated goats that had been treated with testosterone. Five castrated goats were implanted s.c. with testosterone capsules to maintain physiological levels of plasma testosterone for four weeks. Skin samples were obtained from the head region on Day 0 (the day of testosterone implant), Day 7, Day 14, Day 28 (the day of testosterone removal), Day 36, Day 42, and Day 56. Matched blood samples were also collected for measurement of testosterone concentration. The pheromone activity of the ether-extracts of the upper dermal layer containing sebaceous glands was assessed by its stimulatory effect on the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator, which was monitored for ...