ABSTRACT

The endocrinology of reproduction is a complex and incompletely understood subject for urodeles and other vertebrates, in part, because hormones are involved in the control of all aspects of reproduction and also because repro­ duction is controlled by complex internal, environmental and social signals. Hormones regulate the development of primary and secondary reproductive structures during sexual differentiation and maturation. Hormones also control seasonal and social changes in reproductive activity, the production of mature gametes, the development of neural, glandular, and muscular structures associated reproduction, and the production and secretion of sex pheromones. Although urodeles use the same basic types of hormones and endocrine mechanisms as other vertebrates, the amount of research focusing on the hormonal control of reproduction in urodeles is limited.