[Effects of the absence of females on the sexual maturation of male mice]

Male mice were assigned to two groups. Group I: 3 males and 3 females in cohabitation from birth to sacrifice. Group II: litters of 6 males placed, after weaning, in a female-free room. 15-20 animals of each group were sacrificed from 30 to 90 days. Sexual maturation, characterized by testicular and seminal vesicle growth and by plasma testosterone levels, followed a similar pattern in both groups. Only minor difference were observed. These findngs suggest that female stimuli are not a necessary factor of sexual maturation in male mouse.