[On the flank gland in Syrian hamsters]

The scent gland of Syrian hamsters is named the flank gland and thought to play an important role in the communication among individuals of the same species as in a few other rodents. In the present paper, the flank gland of Syrian hamsters of both sexes was macroscopically and histologically studied with special reference to the aging. This gland reached the plateau in size at 21 days of age in females, while it continued to develop until 70 days of age in males. Its shape was circular in adult females, and elliptical in adult males, respectively. Histologically, it was identified as the developing sebaceous glands with hair follicles in both sexes at 21 days of age. Thereafter, it gradually increased in size and number of lobules. It was always better developed in males than in females at each day examined in the present study, although there were no sex differences in its histological structure.