DOCSLIB.ORG

Hormonal Influence on the Social Behavior of the Vole, Microtus Ochrogaster

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1978 Hormonal influence on the social behavior of the vole, Microtus ochrogaster: effects of photoperiod, temperature, gonadectomy, preputialectomy and oral angle gland removal Hetty Burnett Beard Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Beard, Hetty Burnett, "Hormonal influence on the social behavior of the vole, Microtus ochrogaster: effects of photoperiod, temperature, gonadectomy, preputialectomy and oral angle gland removal " (1978). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 6478. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/6478 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the orignal document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". if It was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting Aru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. You will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from left to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again — beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor. Michigan 48106 USA St. John's Road. Tyler's Green High Wycombe. Bucks. England HP10 8HR 7900168 BEARD, HETTY BUR1ŒTT HORMOKAL lEPLUEECE ON THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF THE VOLE, MICROTUS OCHROGASTER: EFFECTS OF PHOTOPERIOD, TEMPERATURE, GOUADECTOMÏ, PREPUTIALECTOMY AKD ORAL ANGLE GLAND REMOVAL. IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, PH.D., 1978 University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48io6 © 1978 HETTY BURNETT BEARD All Rights Reserved Hormonal influence on the social behavior of the vole, Microtus ochroqaster: Effects of photoperiod, temperature, gonadectomy, preputialectomy and oral angle gland removal by Hetty Burnett Beard A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department: Zoology Major: Zoology (Animal Behavior) Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Major DepartiJiênîrt^r Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Gi/Muate College Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1978 Copyright Hetty Burnett Beard, 1978. All rights reserved. i i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 4 MATERIALS AND METHODS 44 RESULTS 54 DISCUSSION 138 SUMMARY 158 REFERENCES 160 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 180 APPENDIX A: RATING SCALE FOR AGGRESSIVENESS 181 APPENDIX B: BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS 182 APPENDIX C: ORCHIDECTOMY 183 APPENDIX D: PREPARATION OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE 184 APPENDIX E: PREPUTIALECTOMY 185 APPENDIX F: ORAL GLAND REMOVAL 185 APPENDIX G: MODIFIED PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS 187 APPENDIX H: ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE TABLES FOR BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS, INDIVIDUAL VOLE BEHAVIOR AND GLAND WEIGHTS 188 1 INTRODUCTION The literature on social behavior documents the hormonal and phero- monal influences on sexual behavior and aggression. Several lines of evidence indicate that endocrine organs play a major role in the deter­ mination of aggressive and sexual behavior. The presence of androgens appears to be a prerequisite for the development and maintenance of ag­ gressive behavior (Beeman, 1947; Scott and Fredericson, 1951), since castration is followed by a reduction in aggressiveness in rodents and in other mammals, while exogenous androgen-replacement therapy results in its restoration (Beeman, 1947; Scott and Fredericson, 1951; Luttge and Hall, 1973a,b). The relationship between androgens and aggression depends upon the species studied, the dosage of androgen used, the sex of the animal, and environmental stimuli. Aggression is enhanced by isolating animals several weeks before ag­ gressive encounters. Bevan et al. (1958) found that masculinization by testosterone administration of isolated female mice was ineffective in in­ ducing aggressive behavior, whereas feminization of males prevented the effect of isolation and also inhibited aggression in previously aggressive mice. Androgens apparently modify the fighting behavior of isolated males by influencing the production of olfactory cues (Mugford and Nowell, 1970). Hormones are thought to lower the threshold for aggression- eliciting cues (Sigg, 1969). It is apparent from studies in mammals that pheromones play a role in communicating a number of social messages. Bronson and Caroom (1971) 2 found that preputial secretions of male mice attract females. Preputial gland are affected by the endocrine status of the male since females were not attracted to castrates. Orsulak & Gawienowski (1972) found that males were attracted only to preputial secretions of estrous female rats. The urine of male mice contains a pheromone which increases the aggressiveness of other males (Mackintosh and Grant, 1966). The aggressive response does not persist after castration, thus Mugford and Nowell (1970) concluded that production of this perhomone depends upon androgens. Testosterone propionate induces an increase in aggression of intact males toward cas­ trated males scented with intact male urine, whereas when castrated males were scented with the urine of ovariectomized females aggression toward them was reduced (Mugford and Nowell, 1971a). The relationship between aggression and olfaction is supported by studies of Ropartz (1968b) who found that olfactory bulbectomy abolished fighting in previously aggres­ sive mice. The preputial gland represents an androgen-dependent organ that has been considered a source of a pheromone which is involved in aggression. Mugford and Nowell (1972) found that preputialectomy decreased aggression in males. Mugford and Nowell (1971b) postulated that male mice preputial glands secrete pheromones which are aggression-eliciting. Bronson and Caroom (1971) and Orsulak and Gawienowski (1972) postulated that the male preputial glands function in sex recognition since females are attracted to secretions of the male preputial gland. These findings suggest that preputial glands function in both sex attraction and el ici tation of ag­ gression. 3 Other mammalian skin glands have been postulated to produce olfactory signals which communicate a social message. Examples of such glands are the Harderian glands of the Mongolian gerbil, the oral angle gland of microtine rodents, the tarsal gland of the black-tailed deer and the sub- auricular gland of male pronghorns. The functioning of these exocrine glands depends upon hormones and environmental conditions which might modulate hormonal levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate some hormonal, phero- monal and environmental influences on the social behavior of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster. The research included a comparison of the ag­ gressive behavior of animals treated with testosterone propionate with those in which the gonads, preputial and oral angle glands were removed. Female voles were subjected to reduced temperature and photoperiod to study the effects of winter conditions upon the function of the hormonal and pheromonal glands affecting aggressive behavior. 4 LITERATURE REVIEW Social behavior is that "behavior which influences or is influenced by, other members of the same species" (Barnett, 1963). Social behavior involves reproductive activity, behavior which brings animals together, and all intraspecific conflict (Barnett, 1963). Many authors limit the term, social behavior, to behavior involving sign stimuli which function to regulate interorganismal distance, timing or sequencing of acts involv­ ing conspecifics, or when conspecifics act in concert to effect changes in their environment beneficial to
Recommended publications
  • Mouse Breeding Colony Management 1. Mouse Reproduction A. General Mouse Information I. the Average Mouse Lives Approximately

    Mouse Breeding Colony Management 1. Mouse Reproduction A. General Mouse Information I. the Average Mouse Lives Approximately

    Mouse Breeding Colony Management 1. Mouse Reproduction A. General Mouse Information i. The average mouse lives approximately 2.5 years; however, the reproductive life span of mice is significantly shorter at 7-8 months. ii. Most mice reach sexual maturity (males and females) at 4-7 weeks of age. Younger mice generally produce smaller litters and therefore are not typically mated until they reach 6-8 weeks, of age. Mice that have been housed alone or in same-sex pairs will usually not breed successfully if they are older than 6-8 months. iii. The mouse estrous cycle is 4-5 days in length. Mice cycle continuously throughout the year (non-seasonal breeders). Female mice are only receptive to males when they are in estrus. Mating typically occurs at night (lights off). Ovulation occurs 8-12 hours after the onset of estrous. iv. If fertilization occurs, fetuses can be palpated by day 14. v. Gestation in mice is typically 19-21 days (strain dependent). vi. Parturition in mice may last 1-3 hours and frequently occurs at night. Females will go into estrus within 24 hours of parturition and are sexually receptive during this time. vii. Litter size varies among strains, but averages 4-12 pups. Inbred mice tend to have smaller litters than outbred mice. viii. Mice are typically weaned at 21-28 days or at 10g of body weight. The Purdue Animal Care and Use Committee requires that mouse pups be weaned at 21 days unless PACUC approval is given on an approved animal use protocol. See Policy attached.
  • Behavioral Roles of Oxytocin and Vasopressin

    Behavioral Roles of Oxytocin and Vasopressin

    Chapter 3 Behavioral Roles of Oxytocin and Vasopressin Benjamin C. Nephew Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/50422 1. Introduction Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are peptide hormones found in most mammals that have vital physiological and behavioral actions. The major sites of AVP production are the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei in the hypothalamus, although AVP and its receptors are found in numerous brain nuclei and peripheral tissues. AVP’s physiological roles, which are mediated through both peripheral and central mechanisms, include regulating fluid homeostasis and blood pressure. It is also an important component of the endocrine stress response through its actions in the posterior pituitary gland, where it is a secretagogue of ACTH, stimulating the release of corticosteroid stress hormones and catecholamines from the adrenal glands. The three receptor subtypes for AVP are V1a, V1b, and V2. V2 receptors mediate the fluid regulating actions of AVP in the periphery, where the behavioral and central endocrine functions of AVP are mediated by the V1a and V1b receptors in the brain. These receptors are also involved in the central control of cardiovascular activity. Oxytocin’s major physiological roles are to facilitate uterine contractions during birth through a positive feedback mechanism during the second and third stages of labor, and to mediate milk letdown. In lactating mammalian mothers, OXT initiates milk letdown in the mammary glands, and the release of OXT is stimulated by suckling. OXT has one known receptor which has several alleles. The focus of the present chapter will be on the social behavior functions of both AVP and OXT.
  • Mice in a Labyrinth Show Rapid Learning, Sudden Insight, and Efficient Exploration Matthew Rosenberg1†, Tony Zhang1†, Pietro Perona2*, Markus Meister1*

    Mice in a Labyrinth Show Rapid Learning, Sudden Insight, and Efficient Exploration Matthew Rosenberg1†, Tony Zhang1†, Pietro Perona2*, Markus Meister1*

    RESEARCH ARTICLE Mice in a labyrinth show rapid learning, sudden insight, and efficient exploration Matthew Rosenberg1†, Tony Zhang1†, Pietro Perona2*, Markus Meister1* 1Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States; 2Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States Abstract Animals learn certain complex tasks remarkably fast, sometimes after a single experience. What behavioral algorithms support this efficiency? Many contemporary studies based on two-alternative-forced-choice (2AFC) tasks observe only slow or incomplete learning. As an alternative, we study the unconstrained behavior of mice in a complex labyrinth and measure the dynamics of learning and the behaviors that enable it. A mouse in the labyrinth makes ~2000 navigation decisions per hour. The animal explores the maze, quickly discovers the location of a reward, and executes correct 10-bit choices after only 10 reward experiences — a learning rate 1000-fold higher than in 2AFC experiments. Many mice improve discontinuously from one minute to the next, suggesting moments of sudden insight about the structure of the labyrinth. The underlying search algorithm does not require a global memory of places visited and is largely explained by purely local turning rules. Introduction How can animals or machines acquire the ability for complex behaviors from one or a few experien- ces? Canonical examples include language learning in children, where new words are learned after *For correspondence: just a few instances of their use, or learning to balance a bicycle, where humans progress from com- [email protected] (PP); plete incompetence to near perfection after crashing once or a few times.
  • An Approach to the Measurement of Sexual Behavior in the Bull (Bos Taurus) Using Variable Female Stimulus Conditions

    An Approach to the Measurement of Sexual Behavior in the Bull (Bos Taurus) Using Variable Female Stimulus Conditions

    University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2003 AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS John Denver Bailey University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Bailey, John Denver, "AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS" (2003). University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations. 239. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/239 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION John Denver Bailey The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2003 AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS _____________________________________ ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION _____________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky By John Denver Bailey Lexington, Kentucky Director: Keith K. Schillo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Animal Sciences Lexington, Kentucky 2003 Copyright © John Denver Bailey 2003 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS Most researchers studying sexual behavior of the bull have adopted the practice of severely restraining and sedating female stimuli, utilizing so-called “service stanchions” and quantifying behavioral events expressed by each bull.
  • Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity, Eighth Edition, by Spencer A

    Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity, Eighth Edition, by Spencer A

    chapter Sexuality in 13 Childhood and Adolescence in this chapter . ● Infancy (0 to 2 Years): The Search for the Origins ● Adolescence of Human Sexuality ● Puberty The Infant’s Capacity for Sexual Response A CLOSER LOOK: Sexting: Masturbation Of Cellphones, Sex, and Death Sexual Curiosity ● Genital Play Types of Sexual Behaviors in Co-Sleeping Adolescence Sexual Orientation of Masturbation Parents Male–Female Sexual Behavior ● Early Childhood (3 to 8 Male–Male and Female–Female Sexual Behavior Years) ● Masturbation Teenage Pregnancy A CLOSER LOOK: How Should Parents React When A CLOSER LOOK: Do Sexy TV Shows Encourage Sexual Children Masturbate? Behavior in Teenagers and Lead to Teenage Pregnancy? Male–Female Sexual Behavior ● Sexuality in Childhood and Adolescence— Male–Male and Female–Female Sexual Behavior The 3 R’s: Reflect, Recite, and Review Reflect ● Preadolescence (9 to 13 Years) Recite Masturbation Review Male–Female Sexual Behavior Male–Male and Female–Female Sexual Behavior ● Sex Education and Miseducation: More Than ISBN 1-256-42985-6 “Don’t” A CLOSER LOOK: Talking with Your Children about Sex Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity, Eighth edition, by Spencer A. Rathus, Jeffrey S. Nevid, and Lois Fichner-Rathus. Published by Allyn & Bacon. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. TRUTH or Which of the following statements are the truth, and which are fiction? Look for the Truth-or-Fiction fiction icons on the pages that follow to find the answers. 1 Many boys are born with erections. TF 2 Infants often engage in pelvic thrusting at 8 to 10 months of age. TF 3 Most children learn the facts of life from parents or from school sex-education programs.
  • Mice in a Labyrinth: Rapid Learning, Sudden Insight, and Efficient Exploration

    Mice in a Labyrinth: Rapid Learning, Sudden Insight, and Efficient Exploration

    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.14.426746; this version posted January 15, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available underManuscript aCC-BY 4.0 under International review license. 1 Mice in a labyrinth: Rapid learning, 2 sudden insight, and efficient exploration 3 Matthew Rosenberg1†, Tony Zhang1†, Pietro Perona2, Markus Meister1* *For correspondence: [email protected] 4 1Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, USA; 2Division of [email protected] (MR); 5 Engineering and Applied Science, Caltech, USA (TZ); [email protected] (PP); [email protected] 6 (MM) †These authors contributed 7 Abstract Animals learn certain complex tasks remarkably fast, sometimes after a single equally to this work 8 experience. What behavioral algorithms support this efficiency? Many contemporary studies 9 based on two-alternative-forced-choice (2AFC) tasks observe only slow or incomplete 10 learning. As an alternative, we study the unconstrained behavior of mice in a complex 11 labyrinth and measure the dynamics of learning and the behaviors that enable it. A mouse in 12 the labyrinth makes ~2000 navigation decisions per hour. The animal quickly discovers the 13 location of a reward in the maze and executes correct 10-bit choices after only 10 reward 14 experiences – a learning rate 1000-fold higher than in 2AFC experiments. Many mice improve 15 discontinuously from one minute to the next, suggesting moments of sudden insight about the 16 structure of the labyrinth.
  • A Sociobiological Origin of Pregnancy Failure in Domestic Dogs

    A Sociobiological Origin of Pregnancy Failure in Domestic Dogs

    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN A sociobiological origin of pregnancy failure in domestic dogs Luděk Bartoš1,2, Jitka Bartošová1, Helena Chaloupková2, Adam Dušek1, Lenka Hradecká2 & Ivona Svobodová2 Received: 01 July 2015 Among domestic dog breeders it is common practice to transfer a domestic dog bitch out of her home Accepted: 08 February 2016 environment for mating, bringing her back after the mating. If the home environment contains a Published: 26 February 2016 male, who is not the father of the foetuses, there is a potential risk of future infanticide. We collected 621 records on mating of 249 healthy bitches of 11 breed-types. The highest proportion of successful pregnancies following mating occurred in bitches mated within their home pack and remaining there. Bitches mated elsewhere and then returned to a home containing at least one male had substantially lower incidence of maintained pregnancy in comparison with bitches mated by a home male. After returning home, housing affected strongly the frequency of pregnancy success. Bitches mated elsewhere but released into a home pack containing a home male were four times more likely to maintain pregnancy than bitches which were housed individually after returning home. Suppression of pregnancy in situations where a bitch is unable to confuse a home male about parentage may be seen as an adaptation to avoid any seemingly unavoidable future loss of her progeny to infanticide after birth and thus to save energy. Multi-male mating is common among nearly 90% of 40 carnivore species in which it is known that offspring may be vulnerable to infanticide1. The most credible explanation is that multi-male mating confuses paternity, thereby deterring males from potential infanticide1,2.
  • INSTRUMENTAL CONDITIONED REFLEXES with SEXUAL REINFORCEMENT in RATS the Purpose of the Present Work Was to Elaborate a Method Of

    INSTRUMENTAL CONDITIONED REFLEXES with SEXUAL REINFORCEMENT in RATS the Purpose of the Present Work Was to Elaborate a Method Of

    ACTA NEUROBIOL. EXP. 1971, 31: 251-262 INSTRUMENTAL CONDITIONED REFLEXES WITH SEXUAL REINFORCEMENT IN RATS Jozef BECK Department of Mother Welfare, Research Institute of Mother and Child Health, Warsaw 20. Poland The purpose of the present work was to elaborate a method of in- vestigation of the instrumental CRs with sexual reinforcement. The examination of such reflexes in various experimental situations gives more precise information about sexual drive levels than simple observa- tion of sexual behavior. Moreover, this is the only way for obtaining exact data concerning the changes in the drive level in females during the mating behavior. As in natural conditions the intervals between copulations, which can be treated as the indicator of these changes, are imposed by the male. There is a small number of findings concerned with instrumental sexual reflexes (Sheffield et al. 1951, Denniston 1954, Kagan 1955, Beach and Jordan 1956, Bermant 1961, Peirce and Nuttall 1961, Bolles et al. 1968) in comparison to those which concern instrumental alimentary or defensive reflexes. Therefore, a comparison between unconditioned ali- mentary and sexual reflexes seems desirable and scientifically interesting. Both reflexes belong to the group of preservative reflexes (Konorski 1970). While the biological role of the unconditioned alimentary reflex is preservation of individual life, the sexual reflex is responsible for con- tinuation of the life of the species. In both unconditioned reflexes two components are observed: the drive and the consummatory responses. For the unconditioned alimentary reflex the drive is hunger, manifested by behavior directed to reach food and the consummatory reaction is the act of food digesting.
  • Influence of Increasing Number of Mating Partners on Mating Behaviour and Reproduction in Brandt’S Voles Jianjun Zhang China Agricultural University

    Influence of Increasing Number of Mating Partners on Mating Behaviour and Reproduction in Brandt’S Voles Jianjun Zhang China Agricultural University

    Central Washington University ScholarWorks@CWU Biology Faculty Scholarship College of the Sciences 2004 Influence of increasing number of mating partners on mating behaviour and reproduction in Brandt’s voles Jianjun Zhang China Agricultural University Zhibin Zhang Lixing Sun Central Washington University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/biology Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Zhang, J., Zhang, Z. & Sun, L. (2004). Influence of increasing number of mating partners on mating behavior and reproduction in Brandt’s voles. Folia Zoologica. 53(4): 357-365. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of the Sciences at ScholarWorks@CWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@CWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Folia Zool. – 53(4): 357–365 (2004) Influence of increasing number of mating partners on mating behaviour and reproduction in Brandt’s voles Jianjun ZHANG1,2, Zhibin ZHANG1* and Lixing SUN3 1 State Key Laboratory of Pest Management on Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, 25 Beisihuanxi Road, Haidian, Beijing 100080, China; *e-mail:[email protected] 2 Department of Pesticide and Plant Quarantine, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian, Beijing 100094, China 3 Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7537, USA Received 5 January 2004; Accepted 22 November 2004 A b s t r a c t . The influence of increasing number of mating partners on the copulatory behaviour and reproduction in Brandt’s voles (Microtus brandti) was studied.
  • The Mouse, Rat and Guinea-Pig

    The Mouse, Rat and Guinea-Pig

    The Mouse, Rat and Guinea-Pig Rodents are a very successful order of placental mammals which colonise almost all habitats. All members of the order are small, the largest member, the Capybara, being about the size of a small pig. Rodents have a number of distinguishing features: they have open rooted sharp teeth, hindgut microbial fermentation chambers, and are coprophagic. Rodents can be divided into three suborders, the Myomorpha, Hystricomorpha and Sciuromorpha. Most laboratory rodents are Myomorphs or Hystricomorphs. Simplified Classification of Rodents Rodentia Myomorpha Hystricomorpha Sciuromorpha Muridae Cricetidae Caviidae Chinchillidae Mouse, rat Hamster, gerbil Guinea pig Chinchilla Squirrel, beaver, chipmunk THE MOUSE The mouse, Mus musculus , is the most commonly used laboratory animal. Many well-defined inbred and outbred strains are available, for which the karyotypes are known. In fact, more is known about the genome of the mouse than any other species, which is one reason for its popularity as a research animal. There are many types of genetically modified mice available which are useful models for specific disease entities. Behaviour Mice are essentially crepuscular – they are active at dawn and dusk and much of their normal activity takes place during the dark period. They are social animals which can live in harmony once their hierarchy is established. Pheromones act as mediators in communication between mice, and the influence of pheromones must be taken into account when managing a mouse colony. For example, exposure to male pheromones causes synchronisation of oestrus in females (Whitten effect), pheromones from unfamiliar animals can cause stress and aggression, and those from foreign males may cause recently mated females to abort (Bruce effect).
  • Rodent Societies

    Rodent Societies

    Chapter 23 Nonparental Infanticide Luis A. Ebensperger and Daniel T. Blumstein Male marmot 100 moved into the Grass Group. Male 69 siops truncatus, Patterson et al. 1998), giant otters (Ptero- seemed to oppose 100’s sudden entry, but the females of the nura brasiliensis, Mourão and Carvalho 2001), hippos group appeared to accept 100. Before male 100 moved in (Hippopotamus amphibius, Lewison 1998), plains zebras there were 9 healthy marmot pups crawling around the Grass (Equus burchelli, Pluhácˇek and Bartosˇ 2000), sportive le- Group’s main burrows. Within two weeks there was one in- murs (Lepilemur edwarsi, Rasoloharijaona et al. 2000), and jured marmot pup limping around—apparently avoiding mar- suricates (Suricata suricatta, Clutton-Brock et al. 1998). mot 100. The injured pup did not survive hibernation. (Blum- Infanticide has been noted in the wild or under labora- stein 1993:14) tory conditions in two species of hystricognath rodents and 35 species of sciurognath rodents (table 23.1). Despite the A female invaded an adjacent coterie territory and entered a difficulty of observing and quantifying infanticide in these burrow containing a recently emerged, healthy juvenile. The typically semifossorial and often nocturnal species, we know marauder emerged 5 minutes later with a distinctly bloody face, a considerable amount about the proximate regulation, evo- and then showed licking the front claws [behavior]. Several lution, and function of infanticide in rodents. Understand- minutes later the disoriented juvenile emerged with fresh, se- ing the causes and consequences of infanticide in rodents vere wounds on the face and neck. The juvenile disappeared a provides a basis for developing and testing alternative hy- few days later.
  • Unexplained Repeated Pregnancy Loss Is Associated with Altered Perceptual and Brain Responses to Men's Body-Odor

    Unexplained Repeated Pregnancy Loss Is Associated with Altered Perceptual and Brain Responses to Men's Body-Odor

    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.06.937029; this version posted February 7, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. Rozenkrantz et al Unexplained Repeated Pregnancy Loss is Associated with Altered Perceptual and Brain Responses to Men’s Body-Odor Liron Rozenkrantz*1,2, Reut Weissgross*1,2, Tali Weiss*1,2, Inbal Ravrebi1,2, Idan Frumin1,2, Sagit Shushan1,2,3, Lior Gorodisky1,2, Netta Reshef1,2, Yael Holzman1,2, Liron Pinchover1,2, Yaara Endevelt-Shapira1,2 Eva Mishor1,2, Edna Furman-Haran1,4, Howard Carp5, Noam Sobel1,2 1The Azrieli National Institute for Human Brain Imaging and Research, and 2Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. 3Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. 4Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. 5Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel *Equally contributing first authors 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.06.937029; this version posted February 7, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. Rozenkrantz et al ABSTRACT In the Bruce effect, pregnant mice remember the odor of the fathering male, and miscarry in response to the odor of a male stranger.