Title: | "Scent, social status, and reproductive condition in rat-like hamsters (Cricetulus triton)" |
Author(s): | Zhang JX; Zhang ZB; Wang ZW; |
Address: | "State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun Road 19, Haidian, 100080, Beijing, China" |
DOI: | 10.1016/s0031-9384(01)00506-6 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0031-9384 (Print) 0031-9384 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "This study investigated the interrelations among scent glands, social status, and reproductive conditions in male rat-like hamsters (Cricetulus triton), along with differential attraction of estrous females to conspecific males with different social status and reproductive condition. First, there were positive correlations between testes weights and flank glands and midventral glands. Second, castrated males were dominated by both intact males and castrated males treated with testosterone. Third, estrous females were less attracted to the scents from flank glands and midventral glands of castrated males. Moreover, dominant males had heavier testes and higher levels of circulating testosterone, and estrous females were more attracted to dominant males' scents. Our results indicated that estrous females were able to discriminate between the odors of two strange males with differences in reproductive conditions or social status" |
Keywords: | "Agonistic Behavior/physiology Animals Cricetinae Cricetulus/*physiology Dominance-Subordination Estrus/*physiology Female Male Orchiectomy Sex Attractants/*physiology Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology Smell/*physiology Testis/*physiology Testosterone/ph;" |
Notes: | "MedlineZhang, J X Zhang, Z B Wang, Z W eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2002/01/16 Physiol Behav. 2001 Nov-Dec; 74(4-5):415-20. doi: 10.1016/s0031-9384(01)00506-6" |