| Title: | Olfactory experience and the development of odor preference and vaginal marking in female Syrian hamsters |
| Address: | "Georgia State University, Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, P.O. BOX 3966, Atlanta, GA 30302-3966, USA. pmaras1@student.gsu.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.012 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0031-9384 (Print) 1873-507X (Electronic) 0031-9384 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Rodent reproductive behavior relies heavily on odor processing, and evidence suggests that many odor-guided sexual behaviors are shaped by prior experience. We sought to determine if exposure to male odors during development is required for the adult expression of proceptive sexual behavior toward male odors in female Syrian hamsters. Exposure to male odors was restricted in naive subjects by removing all male siblings from the litter at three to five days of age. Control litters were also culled, but included equal numbers of male and female pups. As adults, naive females displayed investigatory preferences toward male odors in a Y-maze that were comparable to control females; this preference was observed whether contact with the odor stimuli was prevented of allowed. In contrast, naive females vaginal scent-marked equally toward male and female volatile odors, suggesting an inability to target behavior toward sexually relevant odors. However, naive females marked preferentially toward male odors when allowed to contact the odor stimuli. These results provide evidence for the experience-dependent development of vaginal marking behavior toward volatile components of sexual odors. Furthermore, they suggest that distinct mechanisms regulate the development of odor preferences and vaginal marking behavior in this species" |
| Keywords: | "Age Factors *Animal Communication Animals Choice Behavior/*physiology Cricetinae Critical Period, Psychological Discrimination Learning/*physiology Estrous Cycle Female Male Mesocricetus Pheromones/metabolism Recognition, Psychology/physiology Scent Gland;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineMaras, Pamela M Petrulis, Aras eng R01 MH072930/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01 MH072930-04/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ MH072930-01/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2008/05/20 Physiol Behav. 2008 Jul 5; 94(4):545-51. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.012. Epub 2008 Apr 3" |
