This study was designed to establish: a) whether boar pheromones, 5alpha-androstenone and 5alpha-androstenol, may affect the contractile reactivity of superficial veins of the face in prepubertal gilts deprived of ovarian hormones, and b) what is the influence of ovarian hormones secreted during sexual maturation on the contractility of these veins. The isolated rings of frontal, facial and dorsal nasal veins were treated with androstenone (5alpha-androst-16-en-3-one), androstenol (5alpha-androst-16-en-3-ol) and testosterone (17beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one) in concentrations of either 1 or 10 microM. Changes in the contractile activity of the isolated vein segments were measured using isometric transducer and recorded on HSE-ACAD W software. Sex boar pheromones androstenol and androstenone affected the contractility of the superficial veins of the face and nose in both of the prepubertal ovariectomized gilts and prepubertal intact animals. The way these veins reacted to pheromones differed between animal groups, particular vessels and even their parts and was also dose - dependent. In prepubertal ovariectomized gilts, androstenol had stronger action and caused the constriction of the facial vein, dorsal nasal vein and the distal part of the frontal vein. Androstenone produced constriction of the nasal vein, distal part of the frontal vein and proximal part of facial vein, but relaxation of the proximal part of the frontal vein and the distal part of the facial vein. In prepubertal untreated gilts, androstenone was more effective and strongly influence on the constricted of the frontal vein and facial vein and produced the relaxation of the nasal vein. Androstenol influence on the constriction the frontal vein and the distal parts of the facial vein and nasal vein, and influence o the relaxtion their proximal parts. Testosterone used as a control androgen affected both superficial veins of the face veins in a dose-dependent manner, and, at a higher dose, increased the contractility more effectively. Only the nasal vein did not react to this hormone. The present results suggest the existence in prepubertal gilts of frontal and facial veins' specific reactivity which may participate in the regulation of blood flow from the nasal cavity to the perihypophyseal vascular complex and play a role in the humoral pathway for the male pheromone priming functions in the central nervous system. This reactivity was displayed by the vessels in prepubertal gilts without ovarian hormones. The presence of active ovaries in maturing gilts changed the reactivity of these veins to pheromones and testosterone.