Die biologischen Grundlagen der sekundären Geschlechtscharaktere

Age-related changes in the testicular and antler cycles of reindeer, Rangifer tarandus

“…However, Goss (1963) and Bubenik (1975) interpreted early accounts of castration in reindeer (Tandler, 1910;Tandler & Grosz, 1913;Hadwen & Palmer, 1922) Meschaks & Nordkvist (1962) and Bergerud (1976) noted that casting of antlers of male reindeer and caribou occurs sooner after the rut with increasing age; a less pronounced trend occurs with other events of the cycle (Whitehead & McEwan, 1973;Text- fig. 2), and similar observations have been made for other species (Goss, 1963 (Wislocki, 1943) both have prolonged periods without antlers.…”

“…Furthermore, reindeer and caribou are the only species in which the females carry antlers, and the comparison between the antler cycles of the two sexes is of interest. The early work of Tandler (1910) and Tandler & Grosz (1913) suggests that the events of the antler cycles of both sexes are largely independent of the activity of the gonads, as castration of reindeer has a minimal effect on the normal antler cycle, in contrast to other species of deer so far studied (reviewed by Goss, 1963).…”

Antlers–bones of contention

“…Castrated male reindeer are reputed to grow normal antlers (Tandler & Grosz, 1913). However, according to Hadwen & Palmer (1922) when male reindeer with hard antlers are castrated the antlers are shed within 2 or 3 weeks, but when reindeer with growing antlers are castrated, the antlers remain in this condition until the spring when the velvet is shed and the antlers are cast.…”

The Problem of Ageing

“…A premature appearance of senile wrinkled skin was observed and described by Merschejewsky (1876), Pelikan (1876), Pittard (1934), and Tandler and Grosz (1913) in castrated men. Arteriosclerosis, hypertension, senile kidneys, senile heart, etc., might be almost absent in some cases of senescence.…”