An olfactory basis for maternal discrimination of sex of offspring in rats (rattus norvegicus)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1981
Authors:Moore, CL
Journal:Animal Behaviour
Volume:29
Pagination:383-386
Date Published:1981
ISBN Number:0003-3472
Keywords:Rattus norvegicus
Abstract:

Lactating Long-Evans rats (Rattus norvegicus) were presented with three-day-old male and female pups that were either untreated, coated with collodion in the anogenital region or on the neck, or perfumed; or with female pups odorized with either male or female pup urine. As measured by related t-tests of maternal anogenital licking, male and female pups were discriminated in the untreated condition, but not when masking stimuli were present. Female pups treated with male urine elicited more licking than female pups treated with female urine. Overall, maternal licking was decreased by olfactory masking agents and increased by pup urine. It was concluded that olfactory stimuli from pups both stimulate maternal licking and serve as a basis for discriminating male and female offspring.

URL:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347281800978
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith